Sen. Coons’ agriculture & rural development, infrastructure, and energy priorities included in annual appropriations bills

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined his colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to approve the annual Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill as well as the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. Both bills passed out of the Committee with strong, bipartisan support and are now ready for consideration by the full Senate. 

“Delaware plays a critical role in feeding America’s families, and finding ways to support our hardworking farmers and poultry growers is one of my top priorities,” Senator Coons said. “I’m pleased that this appropriations bill includes funding for critical programs that will protect Delaware’s poultry growers from disease and catastrophic loss and help farmers continue their conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay. This bill also provides increased support for rural housing to make sure low-income families can secure fair, affordable housing. Further, the strong funding for the Army Corps of Engineers means we will be able to make continued investments in harbor maintenance and shore protection. I also strongly support the investments made by the Department of Energy important for basic science, energy innovation, and advanced manufacturing. All of these investments mean jobs, economic opportunity, and a cleaner environment for Delaware and the nation. I’m thrilled the committee has worked in a bipartisan way to support these and many related programs.” 

A list of Senator Coons’ priorities that were included in spending bills are below:

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Support for the poultry industry:
Senator Coons fought for $63 million for avian health programs, which support partnerships with state departments of agriculture, universities, and the poultry industry to monitor poultry flocks and prevent and control the spread of diseases, including avian influenza (AI).  

Support for conservation programs:
Senator Coons fought for strong funding for several U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs, including the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.  These programs offer crucial tools that help farmers in Delaware and around the U.S. protect water quality, conserve soil, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect land.  This supports conservation of our nation’s natural resources, sustains our hunting and fishing traditions, and keeps America’s working lands in the hands of farm families for generations to come. 

Support for agricultural research:
Senator Coons fought for $405 million for the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative, which provides critical funding for research on food, agriculture, natural resources, clean energy production, rural development, and nutrition.  

Support for rural housing:
Senator Coons fought for increased funding for rural housing support, including $1.1 billion for the Rural Housing Insurance Fund/Section 502 direct loans, a USDA program that helps low-income applicants obtain affordable housing in rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase applicants’ repayment ability.  Senator Coons also supported $30 million for the Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants Program, another USDA program that provides grants to non-profit organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, which work with low-income families in rural areas to buy, build, and renovate their own affordable homes. 

Support for international food aid:
Senator Coons fought for $15 million for the Local and Regional Procurement program within the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. This program allows USDA to partner with local cooperatives and aid organizations to provide emergency food assistance and development activities using locally procured commodities. He is committed to continuing to improve the efficiency of food aid delivery abroad to make sure our resources reach as many people as possible.

Army Corps of Engineers

Support for navigation:
Senator Coons fought for $5.5 million for Wilmington Harbor, which will ensure ships can continue to access the Port of Wilmington and allow maritime commerce in Delaware to proceed smoothly. He also supported funding for maintenance of the C&D Canal.

Support for coastal protection:
Senator Coons fought for strong beach and coastal protection funding, including a coastal protection project in Lewes.

U.S. Department of Energy

Support for science, energy research, and advanced manufacturing:
Senator Coons fought for funding for continuing investments in basic science, energy research, and innovative manufacturing programs. Funding within the Department of Energy includes $375 million for ARPA-E as well as $6.65 billion for the Office of Science, including $110 million for the Energy Frontier Research Centers. The University of Delaware has been awarded funding through these important programs for a number of years. Further, Delaware will continue to receive funding through the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program which focus on energy efficiency improvements for low income households and energy activities respectively.

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Sen. Coons’ bill reauthorizes funding for advocacy centers for victims of child abuse, including centers in Georgetown, Dover, & Wilmington

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, along with U.S. Representatives Ted Poe (R-Texas) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.), introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers that serve child victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. The success of these federal-state and public-private partnerships have earned them broad bipartisan support and it is time for Congressional reauthorization. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 would ensure funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers through 2023 and strengthen oversight of this critical program. 

In addition to Blunt and Coons, original cosponsors include U.S. Senators Todd Young (Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (W. Va.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii). 

In Delaware, there are Children’s Advocacy Centers in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown.

“When a child is the victim of physical or sexual abuse, his or her life will never be the same,” Senator Coons said. “Seeking justice should be a part of the healing process – not a source of further trauma. Children’s Advocacy Centers provide a safe, supportive space for young victims and help law enforcement officers bring perpetrators to justice faster, more effectively, and at a lower cost. These facilities are a critical asset to law enforcement, to our criminal justice system, and, most importantly, to the children in our community who have been the victims of truly horrific crimes. I thank my colleagues for working with me to ensure they can continue to serve children in need in Delaware and around the country.” 

“In 2017, our state’s 22 child advocacy centers provided a safe haven to more than 8,500 of Missouri’s most vulnerable children,” said Senator Blunt. “This bipartisan bill will ensure Child Advocacy Centers and law enforcement have the resources they need to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases. I urge my colleagues to support the vital role these centers play in keeping kids safe and holding abusers accountable by passing this bipartisan commonsense bill.”

“I’m extremely grateful to Senator Coons for continuing to support Children’s Advocacy Centers not only in Delaware, but across our nation,” said Randall Williams, CEO of Children’s Advocacy Center of Delaware, Inc. “As a result of continued bipartisan support, the Victims of Child Abuse Act has played a vital role in allowing these centers to reduce the devastating impact that child abuse has on children and their families, but there is much more still to do to ensure that all children have access to the services they need. In Delaware in 2017, the Division of Family Services received 21,305 reports of child abuse, neglect or dependency, which was the largest number of reports ever received. The reauthorization of this legislation is essential as we grow this program to one day meet the needs of every victim.”

Children’s Advocacy Centers employ a multi-disciplinary team of trained professionals to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been victims of abuse. These interviews are designed to be admissible in court while also preventing children from being re-traumatized by having to tell their accounts multiple times. In 2017 alone, more than 334,000 children were served at over 850 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the United States. Evidence gathered and subsequently used in child abuse cases saved, on average, more than $1,000 per case in court, child protection, and investigative fees.

The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 would increase authorization levels for this critical work. Acknowledging current fiscal constraints, this moderate increase, from $20 million to $25 million, will strengthen the programs while also enhancing accountability provisions.

The following organizations have endorsed the VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2018: the National Children’s Alliance, North East Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, National District Attorneys Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Fraternal Order of Police, National Sheriffs’ Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs’ Association, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association. 

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons presses Sec. Mnuchin on sanctioning European allies after leaving nuclear deal, Treasury Department’s capacity to enforce sanctions around the world

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today pressed U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin on the Trump administration’s plan for Iran and the Treasury Department’s capacity to enforce sanctions around the world. 

“Now that we’re not just departed from the JCPOA, but Secretary Pompeo has announced his intention to be far more aggressive, I’m concerned. Do you intend to sanction the activity by some of our closest allies, Germany, the UK, France, Korea, Japan, and others in this context in order to try and reescalate pressure on Iran?” said Senator Coons. 

Full audio and video available here.

Senator Coons’ questioning, as delivered, is below: 

Sen. Coons: Let me move on to sanctions. I think also on a bipartisan basis we’ve steadily increased our investment but we have a steadily growing range of sanctions around the world. This is very important work you’re doing and I look forward to supporting your work and hearing more about it that Senator Lankford was just asking about. I’m concerned though that Treasury’s capacity to enforce all the different sanctions around the world, including on the continent of Africa where there’s sanctions against Burundi, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, the DRC, may not be fully funded, let me put it that way. We’ve heard Treasury may not be able to complete new mandated reports on Iran sanctions because the limited staff are too busy monitoring and implementing existing sanctions. Is that correct and do you think the 12% increase requested for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Assistance is sufficient? 

Sec. Mnuchin: Well, senator, first of all thank you very much and I’m glad as you appreciate we are busier on sanctions throughout the world than we’ve ever been and these are very important tools and I believe they’re working very well in that process with our foreign policy and our national security issues. As it relates to the Iran report, I can assure you we will have those reports. I think the increase is significant but, again, as you’ve outlined, these are areas that will have more and more demand and we will come back to you if we need additional resources once we staff up to these levels. 

Sen. Coons: I was concerned by the President’s decision to withdraw from the JCPOA, although I saw it as having real limitations and agreed with much of the initiatives proposed by Secretary Pompeo and the President to work with our European allies to strengthen our actions against Iran’s unacceptable aggressive behavior in the region. I did think we’d be better off staying in the deal with our European allies. Now that we’re not just departed from the JCPOA, but Secretary Pompeo has announced his intention to be far more aggressive, I’m concerned. Do you intend to sanction the activity by some of our closest allies, Germany, the UK, France, Korea, Japan, and others in this context in order to try and reescalate pressure on Iran? 

Sec. Mnuchin: Senator, as you’re aware, the President has been saying for the last year he had he had serious concerns about the Iran JCPOA. I can tell you I just got back from the region and there are concerns there as well about Iran’s bad behavior. The President is determined Iran never has nuclear weapons and I think that’s an important issue for the region. As it relates to the sanctions, as you’re aware the President, because he did not sign the certification, the Iran sanctions will go back in place, both the primary sanctions and the secondary sanctions and, yes, we’ve already communicated with our European partners both through Secretary Pompeo and myself that we will be enforcing the secondary sanctions. 

Sen Coons: I’m very concerned about how that will affect our relations. I agree with the broader objective of restraining hopefully ending Iran’s aggressive and bad behavior but the division with our allies at a critical moment concerns me. Let me ask the last question. ZTE corporation, a Chinese telecommunications giant, was subject to sanctions for violating our U.S. national sanctions on Iran and North Korea. FBI Director Wray just testified the FBI is deeply concerned about the threats foreign telecom companies pose to the security of U.S. networks. Sanctions are a critical tool, if we don’t hold companies accountable for violating them they become ineffective but the President tweeted last week that he and Xi Jinping are working hard together to make sure that ZTE is able to function and be vibrant. Given the clear findings ZTE is guilty of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran and North Korea, why is the administration back peddling to make it easier for a Chinese company to operate and compete with U.S. companies? 

Sec. Mnuchin: Senator, I would comment as I’ve said recently, first of all I don’t think it’s a function of back peddling. President Xi did ask President Trump to look into this. This is not a surprise, President Trump often calls foreign leaders on business issues. This is a Commerce Department enforcement issue working with the Justice Department, the President has been very clear that this is up to the Commerce Department, although I have participated in certain discussions, I can assure you that whatever the Commerce Department decides, the intel community has been part of the briefings. And we will make sure that we enforce national security issues. So, if there are any proposed changes on ZTE, the objective was not to put ZTE out of business. The objective was to make sure that they abide by our sanctions programs, one proposal that the Commerce Department did was obviously limiting exports that create certain issues for our company and our jobs. I can’t comment on what the Commerce Department is considering but, again, I can assure you anything they consider will take into account the very important national security issues and those will be addressed. 

Sen. Coons: Thank you, I certainly hope we’ll continue to rigorously enforce our sanctions against North Korea and Iran. 

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[VIDEO] Sec. Mnuchin refuses to say whether the Treasury Dept. removed Suspicious Activity Reports related to Michael Cohen

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today pressed U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin on recent reports that important financial information about Michael Cohen could not be located by law enforcement.

“Mr. Senator, first of all, I very much appreciate you asking me this question because I think there has been misinformation on the press about this. So, as we’ve recently said, let me first comment that I personally have not been involved in any of the procedures or anything associated with this. But I will also comment we do have procedures where at the request of law enforcement agencies, we do have the ability to suppress important information and for different law enforcement reasons as you can appreciate, this is often done. Now, let me also just be clear, I am not making any comments whether this was or was not done as it relates to these specific SARs, but I want to comment that FinCEN does have a long-standing policy of accommodating the enforcement agencies on that,” said Secretary Mnuchin.

Full audio and video available here.

Sen. Coons’ questioning, as delivered, is below:

Sen. Coons: Let me ask you a last question if I might. I was deeply concerned by recent reports that important financial information about Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal attorney, could not be located by law enforcement. A whistleblower from U.S. law enforcement said two Suspicious Activity Reports on money paid to Mr. Cohen’s account were missing. Can you say that the Treasury Department did not remove, distort, or destroy any Suspicious Activity Reports related to Michael Cohen? 

Sec. Mnuchin: Mr. Senator, first of all, I very much appreciate you asking me this question because I think there has been misinformation on the press about this. So, as we’ve recently said, let me first comment that I personally have not been involved in any of the procedures or anything associated with this. But I will also comment we do have procedures where at the request of law enforcement agencies, we do have the ability to suppress important information and for different law enforcement reasons as you can appreciate, this is often done. Now, let me also just be clear, I am not making any comments whether this was or was not done as it relates to these specific SARs, but I want to comment that FinCEN does have a long-standing policy of accommodating the enforcement agencies on that. And I would also comment that our inspector general is reviewing the issue of leaks, at least there is the appearance that some information may have gone out, I’ve seen articles that actually reference employees who claim they released information because they thought things that were suppressed. There is no excuse whatsoever for anybody who has access to these important systems to release information on an unauthorized basis and I can assure you our inspector general is reviewing these issues very carefully. 

Sen. Coons: Well if might Mr. Secretary, I appreciate that your IG has been directed to investigate leaks. Is the IG also investigating whether or not there has been any inappropriate interference with the SARs that are alleged to be inaccessible or missing? 

Sec. Mnuchin: Again, they are reviewing everything associated with the information of the SARs, both the technology issues, the issues around logging, so again, I can assure you that they are doing a thorough review because this system of SARs is absolutely critical to our entire FinCEN effort and we need to make sure it is in no way at risk. 

Sen. Coons: I’m glad you’re committed to the integrity of the financial crimes enforcement network and to hear that the inspector general is looking at this broadly and I would look forward to any follow-up for you on this. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.  

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Daines, Coons, Casey Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Injured First-Responders are Fairly Compensated

U.S. SENATE – During National Police Week, U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the bipartisan Putting First-Responders First Act. This legislation would clarify the current tax code to ensure injured first-responders do not have to pay taxes on injury-related compensation. In addition, this bill prevents injury-related compensation from becoming taxable when injured first-responders reach retirement age since their injuries and associated costs remain. 

“Our first responders leave home each day not knowing if they will return,” said Daines. “These brave men and women put their life on the line for our safety. It is our duty to make sure they are not unfairly taxed or inappropriately audited by the IRS for the sacrifices they’ve made on our behalf.”

“First responders are dedicated men and women who put themselves at risk on a daily basis in order to protect and serve their communities,” said Coons. “If these men and women are injured while performing their life-saving work, the last thing we should do is tax the benefits that their families receive. That’s why I’m proud to work with Senators Daines and Casey to eliminate a surprise, unfair tax on first responders who are injured in the line of duty.”

“We must do all we can to support our law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders, this bipartisan legislation works to do just that,” said Casey. “Updating the tax code to prevent the IRS from erroneously taxing the disability-related pension payments of our first responders is a commonsense measure to uphold our promise to the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities each day.”  

Since 1985, service-connected disability compensation has been tax-exempt pursuant to Revenue Ruling 85-105. Depending on a first-responder’s years of service and state worker’s compensation regulation, the percentage of total compensation that is service-connected disability compensation can vary. 

Oftentimes, IRS auditors are not aware of Revenue Ruling 85-105 and request injured first-responders to pay taxes on the injury-related compensation. Many first-responders themselves, many in the midst of significant life adjustments, are unaware of the Revenue Ruling and unnecessarily pay sizeable tax bills. Codifying the principle of Revenue Ruling 85-105 would clarify that injury-related compensation is, in fact, tax-exempt.

What’s more, injury-related compensation becomes taxable once the first-responder reaches retirement age of 65, although his or her injuries remain and the individual’s retirement compensation level has been limited due to prematurely leaving the workforce.

The Putting First-Responders First Act provides clarification to both IRS employees and first-responders and keep injury-related compensation tax-exempt after retirement age. The Wounded Officer Initiative, National Sheriffs’ Association and Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation support the bill. 

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Sen. Coons’ statement on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in response to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

“I am deeply concerned about the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has already killed 23 people. At the height of the 2014 Ebola crisis, I visited Liberia and witnessed the devastating impact of this virus firsthand. Following reports that the disease has spread to the provincial capital of Mbandaka, it is critical that Congress fight against any proposed budget cuts to global health investments that support pandemic response, vaccine testing and development, and investments in global public health infrastructure. This is a manageable public health crisis that we know how to solve, but doing so requires our focus, our attention, and our resources. I commend the volunteers in the country who are on the front lines and making the life-saving difference; we must ensure that we do our part, too.”

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Senator Coons’ statement on latest attacks on Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-author of the bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, released the following statement on President Trump’s and his attorney, Rudy Giuliani’s, latest attacks on Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation.

“The Special Counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in our democracy is not a partisan exercise. It is, without question, a non-partisan effort to defend every American – Republican, Democrat or otherwise – from a hostile foreign power’s efforts to rob them of their rights as American citizens and attack our country,” said Senator Coons.  “The statements from President Trump and his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who have called the Special Counsel investigation a ‘witch hunt’ and claimed that the FBI and the Department of Justice are trying to ‘frame’ the President are not only inaccurate, they are corrosive to our democracy and the rule of law.

“After one year of work, the Special Counsel has indicted 19 individuals and three companies of serious crimes.  Five people have already pled guilty. This is not a witch hunt; it is the American rule of law in action.  I urge the President and his aides and lawyers to stop trying to discredit, interfere with, or remove the Special Counsel.  Their efforts will not and must not succeed.”

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: “It’s important to have a free and open internet, but one that also values innovation and investment and protects consumers”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today questioned FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and FTC Chairman Joseph Simons at a FSGG subcommittee hearing on the FY19 budget request for the FEC and FCC.

“Yesterday, the Senate voted to restore the FCC’s previous net neutrality rule. I voted with the majority, that rule has been challenged in the courts and has been the subject of a great deal of controversy. I think it’s important to have a free and open internet, but one that also values innovation and investment and protects consumers. There are four key principles necessary to maintain that fair and open internet, no blocking or throttling, no paid prioritization and full transparency, and if we can find a way together to chart a path that accomplishes those goals I think we will find a way to keep the things that all Americans value about the internet — access to sites that we choose and giving equal access while still promoting innovation and investment — and I look forward to a discussion with you, Chairman Pai about these key issues around net neutrality today.”

Audio and video of Senator Coons’ opening statement available here.

Audio and video of Senator Coons’ Q&A available here.

Senator Coons’ opening statement, as delivered, is below: 

Thank you very much, Chairman Lankford, for convening this hearing today. This is the first hearing for the FSGG Subcommittee this year, your first as chairman, and I very much look forward to working with you and your staff. I think we can together find very constructive ways that we can work together in this year’s appropriations process and moving forward to make sure we are protecting consumers, spending funds appropriately, and advancing federal missions. I’d like to welcome our witnesses, Chairman Pai and Chairman Simons. As Chairman Lankford just referenced, I want to especially thank you, Chairman Simons, for appearing today since you’ve been on the job so briefly. We have two new chairmen and hopefully we’ll find a constructive path together forward.

You know, both the FCC and FTC have key consumer protection missions and I want to focus briefly on a few of those. Yesterday, the Senate voted to restore the FCC’s previous net neutrality rule. I voted with the majority, that rule has been challenged in the courts and has been the subject of a great deal of controversy. I think it’s important to have a free and open internet, but one that also values innovation and investment and protects consumers. There are four key principles necessary to maintain that fair and open internet, no blocking or throttling, no paid prioritization and full transparency, and if we can find a way together to chart a path that accomplishes those goals I think we will find a way to keep the things that all Americans value about the internet — access to sites that we choose and giving equal access while still promoting innovation and investment — and I look forward to a discussion with you, Chairman Pai about these key issues around net neutrality today. 

We’ve also seen from the recent Facebook and Cambridge Analytica controversy that companies can use big data analytics to infer very sensitive and complex information about individuals and then target them with ads that can be successful and manipulative. I don’t know that any of us yet know enough about the full potential of the intersection of artificial intelligence and big data to give informed consent for the use of our data by consumers. But, Chairman Simons, I want to talk to you today about how the FTC might be involved in addressing this issue and how internet privacy and consumer protection in that context may be a piece of your challenge going forward. Whether data-based targeting of this type can ever be so manipulative that it is unfair for Section 5 purposes is something I hope we’ll have a conversation about today. 

Last, about access for consumers, from business to government to academics, access to the internet is no longer optional for success in the 21st Century. Not only is it important in America have access to state of the art tools to power their education, but every home or small business no matter how rural should be connected to the vital communication systems that drive our economy and way of life — the FCC oversees the $10 billion universal service fund, which helps expand access to vital communication systems across the country. Some might think of Oklahoma as significantly more rural than Delaware, but there are areas in both of our states where access to broadband is a pressing concern. The FCC has worked over the past few years to modernize the fund, to include broadband access in addition to voice service while reducing waste and I hope that closing the digital divide will continue to be one of the FCC’s priorities under your leadership and I hope to work together with the chairman to make sure that in rural portions of my state, Kent and Sussex counties as well as rural portions of his state and all of America, will have access to the broadband that we need to be successful in this century. 

I look forward to discussing these and other issues with our two chairmen today. Thank you for coming before us and for sharing your perspectives on the FCC and FTC funding requirements and program goals for FY2019 and in closing, again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for the chance to work together as friends and colleagues. 

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Senator Coons’ statement on opposing Gina Haspel’s nomination to serve as CIA Director

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement.

“Gina Haspel has spent 33 years serving our country, making incredible personal sacrifices, and putting herself in dangerous situations, all without public recognition. She is, without a doubt, skilled and experienced, committed to protecting the American people, and clear-eyed about the many threats our country faces.

“Over the past few weeks, I have been struck by the support Ms. Haspel has received from both current and former CIA employees, including past directors and members of the rank-and-file, and in reviewing her record, I have found that in many ways, her career and her story reflect the CIA’s and America’s history as we have struggled and learned to address evolving threats from international terrorist networks.

“Despite all of her qualifications, though, I will vote to oppose Ms. Haspel’s confirmation for two specific reasons.  First, I cannot support someone for this incredibly important position who has overseen and directed torture of CIA detainees, particularly given Ms. Haspel’s failure to admit that torture is immoral and incompatible with American values.

“Second, I cannot vote to confirm her given her direct involvement in the destruction of videotapes documenting interrogations of CIA detainees, particularly after the CIA was explicitly directed not to destroy those important records.

“If she is confirmed, I expect Ms. Haspel to honor her pledge to never reinstate any form of enhanced interrogation techniques, even if it means resigning, should President Trump order her to do so.  I also expect her to respect congressional oversight and, in particular, keep the Senate Intelligence Committee fully informed of CIA activities that cannot be made public.” 

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons questions former Cambridge Analytica employee on company’s use of Facebook data to influence American voters

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned former Cambridge Analytica employee Christopher Wylie in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Cambridge Analytica’s use of illicit Facebook data to target political messaging. 

“To be clear, a billionaire, American, mega donor and supporter of the Trump campaign funded a shell corporation Cambridge Analytica, still run by foreign nationals, to take advantage of this research, this understanding, and gained access to 87 million Americans Facebook information and developed some of the algorithms that came out of that,” said Senator Coons. “[W]hat threat would it pose to our 2018 elections if this entire data set, all the algorithms that go with it, are currently in the hands of Russian intelligence?” 

Audio and video available here. 

Senator Coons’ questioning is below:

Sen. Coons: Thank you to the panel for the chance to be with you today. I think the reason this matters is that we’re talking about the intersection of several important developments that are difficult for the average American to understand: big data and social media and foreign interference in our 2016 election. And, we are trying to tease out what actually happened or didn’t happen. Mr. Wylie, let me start with you. Cambridge University Professor Michal Kosinski studied the use of Facebook data and found that, based on average of 68 Facebook likes by a user, there are just likes, what you liked and disliked, you could predict sexual orientation, political party affiliation, race, with 85% accuracy. Further factors like religious affiliation, alcohol or drug use, even whether your parents were divorced could be deduced. Is that your understanding of that analysis and do you think Cambridge Analytica and the work of Professor Kogan used that predictive power to develop algorithms that then weaponized differences between different Americans for electoral gain? 

Mr. Wylie: So, the basis of the research we were doing at Cambridge Analytica was from the papers that you’re citing from Dr. Kosinski. So, the firm replicated his approach and then sought to improve it. 

Sen. Coons: And, did I correctly summarize the incredibly high correlation that you could show in terms of really knowing the individual Facebook user if you had access to their likes and their friends and their social media activity. 

Mr. Wylie: Yes, the particular paper that you’re citing, the number of likes once you surpass 100 and 200, you can get to the same level of accuracy at predicting for example personality traits as your spouse would if they were answering questions about you and in comparison, how you would answer. 

Sen. Coons: Okay, to the point that Professor Hersh made earlier, all of us who have stood for election have struggled with the difficulty of actually targeting our votes effectively. Because, the data sets we’ve had access to, mostly publicly available data, are very thin, very narrow, there is very little that we have. The data sets that Facebook has access to, that’s why it’s a multi-billion-dollar company, are unbelievably deep and rich. And, so it’s unlike anything we’ve had to confront before, correct?

Mr. Wylie: Yeah, I don’t contest what Professor Hersh was saying in the sense that there are, it is true, persuading someone compared to motivating them to turn out is much more difficult and the data sets that traditionally were used are often very sparse and not necessarily reliable. 

Sen. Coons: The data sets that are available now through Facebook are orders of magnitude. 

Mr. Wylie: Yes, and that’s why Cambridge Analytica ended up pursuing that path, because ti found that, in comparison to traditional marketing data sets, the data that you could procure from social networking sites was much denser and actually much more reliable to create a precise algorithm. 

Sen. Coons: And, to be clear, a billionaire, American, mega donor and supporter of the Trump campaign funded a shell corporation Cambridge Analytica, still run by foreign nationals, to take advantage of this research, this understanding, and gained access to 87 million Americans Facebook information and developed some of the algorithms that came out of that. I want to ask you in the time I have remaining about your experience with Steve Bannon, one of President Trump’s senior campaign advisors and the goals he used Cambridge Analytica to achieve. Was one of Bannon’s goals to suppress voting certain or discourage certain individuals in the U.S. from voting?

Mr. Wylie: That was my understanding, yes.

Sen. Coons: Was voter suppression a service that U.S. clients could request in their contracts with Cambridge Analytica while Bannon was Vice President? 

Mr. Wylie: Yes.

Sen. Coons: And, so Steve Bannon is running an organization where you could, as a client, request in contracts voter suppression using this remarkable data set? 

Mr. Wylie: I don’t know if it was referenced in contracts, but I have seen documents that make reference to it in relation to client requests and services provided.

Sen. Coons: Okay, one last question. You testified that back in 2014, Cambridge Analytica set up focus groups, message testing, and polling on Americans’ views on the leadership of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s expansionism in Eastern Europe. You’ve also testified that it’s entirely possible, would have been relatively easy for Russian intelligence to put a key logger on Professor Kogan’s computer and get access to this full data set. Why do you think Cambridge Analytica was testing Putin’s aggressive actions and what threat would it pose to our 2018 elections if this entire data set, all the algorithms that go with it, are currently in the hands of Russian intelligence?

Mr. Wylie: So, I don’t have a clear answer as to why the company was so engaged in testing Russian expansionism and the leadership of Vladimir Putin. That’s a question better put to Steve Bannon. In terms of the dangers for not just American democracy, but other democracies around the world, this data is powerful and if it is put into the wrong hands, it becomes a weapon. And, we have to understand that companies like Facebook and platforms like Facebook and Twitter are not just social networking sties, they’re opportunities for information warfare. Not just by state actors, but by non-state actors. And, so we really do need to look at protecting cyberspace as a national security issue in the same way that we have agencies to protect our borders, land, sea, and air.

Sen. Coons: Thank you very much, Mr. Wylie.

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