VIDEO: Sen. Coons speech on climate change

WASHINGTON, DC.  – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) gave a speech on the U.S. Senate floor about how climate change is impacting Delaware with his colleagues, including Senator Whitehouse, who has been delivering “Time to Wake Up” floor speeches since 2012.

A link to the full speech can be found here: https://youtu.be/KoHc8p1pN5c

Full text of speech below:

Mr. President, this evening, inspired by the determined efforts of my colleague Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

My colleague, who has made clear by delivering his 200th floor speech on climate change is committed to raising awareness about, and urging action on, this very real threat to our environment.

Let me speak briefly, as someone who was trained in science as a chemist, I am troubled that – time and time again – I’m called to this chamber to defend and advocate for science.

We live in a time of unprecedented scientific advances.

Throughout our history, we’ve turned to science to help us solve both domestic and international crises. Science was there, for example to do battle against the Ebola outbreak, threats from hurricanes and other natural disasters, the dangers of cigarette smoke or lead exposure.

It was scientists who found a cure, who provided early warning, who educated us, and who influenced politics that that led to policies that led to stronger industry and consumer safety standards in facing all of these threats.

The scientific method has saved lives and insured our survival.

So why don’t we widely embrace the science of prediction, mitigation, and adaptation to the effects of climate change?

Climate change is real. We know climate change is already happening, although it’s slow, gradual, and often hard to perceive.

Its affects will impact human health, agricultural production, and national security, an unbelievable range of concerns that should motivate us together.

Yet I have colleagues either aren’t convinced – or don’t understand – that climate change is a real and pressing threat. 

Let me briefly cite one meta-study of scientific opinion. 

One surveyed 13,950 peer-reviewed articles and studies on climate change and found only 24 of them rejected global warming – less than ZERO POINT TWO PERCENT (0.2%).

So although there is not unanimous opinion, when there is 99.8 percent agreement in the scientific community we should agree that this degree of certainty is enough to take action.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – is an aphorism that dates back to the early 1700s.

Why are we waiting? Let’s change our ways. Let’s work together to lower greenhouse gases, combat pollution, and slow the impact of climate change.

As someone who represents the state of Delaware, I’m passionate about this because we are the lowest mean elevation state in America. 

I’ve heard from folks up and down the First State, from my colleague Senator Carper, from our Governor, from our community leaders, from concerned citizens from Wilmington, to Rehoboth, to Middletown – that they are concerned about sea level rise and the likely impact on our state.

We need to do more. Because in my small state, sea level rise is happening at twice the national rate, and in about 100 years, everyone in Delaware will finally have a beach house. Just not the way they wanted. 

So let me conclude by saying we need to look forward, not backward when addressing climate change and sea level rise.

We need action, not reaction.

We need policy, not politics.

We should act today, not tomorrow.

Mr. President, I want to again say to Sen. Whitehouse, thank you. It was my pleasure to have him visit my home state of Delaware and see what we are doing to plan for and to combat sea level rise as a result of climate change.

It was my honor to join you this evening and lend my support to you, to our environment, and to the fight against climate change.

Mr. President, I yield to my senior colleague from our shared home state of Delaware.

Senators Coons, Toomey, applaud Attorney General Sessions order to enforce existing gun laws

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), released a joint statement regarding Attorney General Jeff Sessions directing all U.S. Attorneys to more vigorously enforce existing gun laws against individuals who are legally barred from owning a gun but “lie and try” to buy one. Unfortunately, federal prosecutors rarely prosecute any of these cases.

“We are pleased that Attorney General Sessions is directing all U.S. Attorneys to more vigorously enforce existing gun laws against individuals who are legally barred from owning a gun but “lie and try” to buy one. Unfortunately, federal prosecutors rarely pursue these cases.

“Attorney General Sessions’ decision is a welcome first step, but Congress should take the next step by enacting the Toomey-Coons NICS Denial Notification Act, which requires federal authorities to alert states within 24 hours when prohibited individuals “lie and try” to purchase firearms. This common-sense legislation provides state law enforcement with critical information they can use to decide whether to investigate and prosecute these individuals under state laws.”

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Sens. Carper, Coons secure free credit monitoring services for active duty service members in Senate banking bill

WASHINGTON – The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (S.2155), which passed a key procedural hurdle earlier this week with overwhelming bipartisan support, includes a key amendment from Delaware’s U.S. Senators, Tom Carper and Chris Coons, that would require credit reporting agencies like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to offer their credit monitoring services to all active duty military, including Reservists and the National Guard, for free. 

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), members of the military face a higher degree of risk of identity theft than the general public — almost twice as much, and identity theft is by far the top complaint filed at the FTC by members of the military. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also received complaints from active duty service members who reported damage to their credit reports because of identity theft. This amendment will provide service members with free credit monitoring tools that offer an extra measure of protection from identity theft, an important service they deserve. 

“Active duty service members have sacrificed to serve our country. Giving them the tools necessary to protect their financial well-being while they are fighting on our behalf is the absolute least we can do,” said Senator Carper, a 23-year veteran of the Navy. “Credit reports have become critical in making financial decisions like obtaining a mortgage or an auto loan, but also in applying for jobs and undertaking other important life events. With data breaches and identity theft on the rise in recent years, and with our military personnel particularly vulnerable to these threats, making sure our service members have access to these credit monitoring services is more important than ever.”

“We know that active duty service members are disproportionately targeted for identity theft, and these brave men and women deserve the ability to monitor their credit and protect themselves,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud that Senator Carper and I were able to successfully fight to include our amendment in this bill to help protect service members and their families from identity theft.”

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RUBIO, COONS INTRODUCE BILL AUTHORIZING ENHANCED SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL, STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) today introduced the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 (S.2497), which would reaffirm bipartisan support for the unshakeable U.S.-Israel relationship by authorizing foreign military financing for Israel over 10 years pursuant to the new Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in September 2016. The bill also supports Israel’s ability to meet and address both conventional and emerging threats. 

“With Israel facing evolving threats from Iran, Syria’s Assad regime, Hizballah, Hamas and other malign actors, this bipartisan legislation will enable the United States to further strengthen our critical strategic alliance with Israel,” said Senator Rubio.  “It is consistent with America’s national security interests and moral values to ensure that Israel, a fellow democracy and our most important ally in the Middle East, remains safe and secure amid the region’s growing dangers.”

“On my recent bipartisan CODEL to the Middle East, I saw the real security challenges facing Israel. Congress must remain clear-eyed about both current and emerging regional threats as we strengthen our strategic partnership with Israel,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Rubio, which represents the continuation of America’s decades-long unshakable, bipartisan commitment to Israel’s security. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues and Israel to ensure regional stability and meet shared threats to our security in the next decade and beyond.” 

Background:

·        In addition to authorizing security assistance for Israel over a 10-year period, the Rubio-Coons legislation extends both the Loan Guarantee authority for Israel and the War Reserves Stockpile Authority for Israel for a 5-year period (FY2019-23).

·         The bill also reiterates that it is U.S. policy to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME); authorizes the transfer of precision guided munitions (PGMs) and related defense articles and services to the reserve stocks in Israel for self-defense purposes; and seeks to enhance cooperation and coordination between the two countries in a variety of sectors, including through the use of memoranda of understanding between USAID and the Government of Israel. 

·         This bill is the Senate companion to legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL). 

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Senators Carper, Coons calls Interior’s public engagement on offshore drilling plan inadequate, demands local voices be heard

WILMINGTON, DE – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined 21 Senators in a letter to United States Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke requesting an extension of the March 9, 2018, deadline to submit comments on the Draft Proposed Program for the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2019-2024 and on scoping for the required Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. 

In the letter the Senators wrote, “We believe a 60-day extension of the deadline for comments is necessary to allow for more public hearings in coastal areas and to give the public sufficient time to submit comments on offshore drilling proposed for nearly the entire U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), encompassing over 90 percent of total OCS acreage – the largest number of potential offshore lease sales ever proposed.” 

The letter also requests additional public meetings in rural and coastal communities in each affected state and the opportunity for the public to offer formal oral testimony at public meetings.

“These public hearings are a critical opportunity for citizens to learn about and comment on the Department of the Interior’s five year plan, and due to the geographic extent of the proposed leasing program, it is imperative to provide adequate access for each region,” said the Senators. 

“We do not believe that the 23 currently announced ‘open house’ style meetings are adequate in duration, location, nor format needed to meet the public input requirements. Several of the public meetings were postponed and rescheduled later in the public comment period, which does not leave adequate time for stakeholders to learn details about the DPP at the public meeting and submit meaningful comments before the comment period ends.

“In addition, formal oral testimony, as opposed to an ‘open house’ format, would better ensure that people’s concerns are heard and recorded publicly,” said the Senators. 

In addition to Senators Carper and Coons, the letter was signed by Sen. Cantwell (D-Wash.),  Sen. Markey (D-Mass.), Sen. Merkley (D-Ore.), Sen Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Sen. Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sen. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Hassan (D-N.H.), Sen. Murray (D-Wash.), Sen. Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Menendez (D-N.J.), Sen. King (I-Maine), Sen.  Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Cardin (D-Md.), Sen. Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sen. Harris (D- Calif.), Sen. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Sen. Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

The full letter can be found below and here. 

The Honorable Ryan Zinke
Secretary
United States Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240

We respectfully request a full and fair opportunity for the most directly impacted stakeholders to provide feedback on the Draft Proposed Program and on scoping for the Programmatic EIS through an extension of the comment period deadline to at least May 8, 2018, additional meetings in rural and coastal communities in each affected state, and the opportunity to offer formal, oral testimony.

ICYMI: Sens. Coons, Lankford discuss faith on The Church Politics Podcast

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and James Lankford (R-OK) joined The Church Politics Podcast with Michael Wear and Justin Giboney to discuss faith, the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast, the connection between progressive politics and religion, and more.

Listen to the podcast here.

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons on Trump’s trade moves: “Frankly, the President didn’t do his homework on this one”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday joined MSNBC’s Kasie DC to discuss President Trump’s recent tariff decision and Russian interference in our elections. 

“Frankly, the President didn’t do his homework on this one, and this is what happens when you take bumper sticker level attack on the world trading system that might stir up election rallies, but it is terrible policy. And throw it out there without having done enough ground work with our allies, with industry and partners around the world,”said Senator Coons. “The tariffs that the President is threatening to slap onto imported steel and aluminum will principally affect some of our core and vital allies. Canada, South Korea, some of our European allies. Rather than principally affecting China, which is the country he says he’s been trying to get their attention on trade issues. I think, for example, rather than withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, if the President really wants to strengthen our hand in the world in terms of trade, getting back to the table and negotiating a strong tough fair deal with our partners in the Asia-Pacific against China would make a lot more sense. So, I frankly think that our allies weren’t well prepared for it. The markets took a dive in response to it. And it’s not yet clear to me what exactly the President’s goal is in slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum, principally imported from key allies.”

Full video and audio available here.

Excerpts from the interview:  

Sen. Coons on President Trump’s tariff decision: Frankly, the President didn’t do his homework on this one, and this is what happens when you take bumper sticker level attack on the world trading system that might stir up election rallies, but it is terrible policy. And throw it out there without having done enough ground work with our allies, with industry and partners around the world. The tariffs that the President is threatening to slap onto imported steel and aluminum will principally affect some of our core and vital allies. Canada, South Korea, some of our European allies. Rather than principally affecting China, which is the country he says he’s been trying to get their attention on trade issues. I think, for example, rather than withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, if the President really wants to strengthen our hand in the world in terms of trade, getting back to the table and negotiating a strong tough fair deal with our partners in the Asia-Pacific against China would make a lot more sense. So, I frankly think that our allies weren’t well prepared for it. The markets took a dive in response to it. And it’s not yet clear to me what exactly the President’s goal is in slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum, principally imported from key allies.

More on the tariff decision: There are folks in both parties who have called on the President to impose restrictions on our competitors, whether it’s by punishing China for currency manipulation or going after China and others for stealing our intellectual property. This particular move, putting tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, is popular with folks in states where there is still a steel making industry that faces significant foreign pressure. And so, this is something — this isn’t some out of the blue move by the President. He did run on this. He’s talked about it repeatedly. What I’m trying to suggest but saying that he didn’t fully do his homework was that there is reporting that folks within the White House, within his own administration, and in some of our key allies, capitals around the world, who were utterly unprepared for this announcement. It was the way it was announced and the likely impact it will have that I think doesn’t align with our best economic interests. 

Sen. Coons on Putin: Well, Kasie, I have no direct knowledge of what Denis McDonough is relating there. I wasn’t involved in the conversations with the speaker and the majority leader and the minority leader in the House and the Senate about warning the American public around 2016 meddling. I do think the Obama administration tried to strike the right balance between being forceful in confronting Putin personally in the case of President Obama, and engaging Congress. Just a few short weeks before a general election and trying to avoid seeming partisan, the larger question is whether we’ve done enough to protect our election that’s upcoming here in just a few months in 2018. And the answer clearly is that we haven’t. There is reporting out in The New York Times today that out of a fund of $120 million that was appropriated to the State Department to allow them to combat meddling in elections, election interference, none of it, zero, has been spent so far. And although I’ve joined a bipartisan bill, a good bipartisan bill that Senator Lankford, Senator Klobuchar, and several other senators have called the Secure Elections Act, we don’t have a pathway to getting that bill passed. As an appropriator, I’m working on a bipartisan basis to try and get grants out to the states in time, but it is a Republican-controlled Congress and I’ll tell you, my concern is that we are not doing enough bipartisan work to get this done and get this done in a timely way to protect us for the 2018 elections.

Sen. Coons on Russia sanctions:  Absolutely. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has an upcoming scheduled hearing with Secretary of State Tillerson. It is striking to me that after the Senate, by a vote of 98-2, authorized the President to use new sanctions authority to push back on Russia, to punish Russia for interfering in our 2016 election. To my estimation, not enough has been done yet. And this new reporting today that this dedicated fund has not been utilized strikes me as just a dereliction of duty by the State Department and by the Trump administration. We can and should do more on a bipartisan basis. I’m working as an appropriator, as a senator, with Republican colleagues to try and tackle this problem. But time is really running out. And very recently in the House Intelligence Committee, we heard testimony from President Trump’s own CIA Director, National Security Advisor, and Director of National Intelligence that they believe the Russians will attempt to interfere in our next election. They have interfered in democratic elections across Western Europe and so the time is long past due for us to step forward and take action. And I intend to press Secretary Tillerson on why this fund has not been appropriately used by the State Department. 

Sen. Coons on bipartisanship: Well, there’s two topics I think we need to address in a bipartisan way: tackling gun violence and addressing immigration and the status of dreamers. I was bitterly disappointed that a strong bipartisan bill that would have solved the status of dreamers was rejected. It got 54 votes because of the President’s change in position and active lobbying against it. Until we know that the President will support some solution on dreamers, I have a hard time seeing how we’re going to get it back on the floor and get it done in time this year.

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Sens. Coons, Toomey, Nelson, and Rubio announce new bipartisan gun safety legislation

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) announced new gun safety legislation that will assist states with enforcing existing laws against individuals who attempt to purchase firearms but have no legal right to do so. The NICS Denial Notification Act requires federal authorities to alert state law enforcement within 24 hours when individuals “lie and try” to purchase firearms, which can be a warning sign of criminal behavior. The legislation is also co-sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). 

Federal officials are notified when individuals who are legally prohibited from purchasing a firearm (such as convicted felons, fugitives, and domestic abusers) try to buy a gun but fail a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check. These attempted purchases often violate federal and state laws. Unfortunately, the federal government rarely prosecutes any of these individuals.

In the 13 states that run their own background checks using the FBI’s NICS system, state authorities are aware when prohibited persons fail background checks and can have state law enforcement investigate these cases. However, in the 37 states and the District of Columbia that rely on the FBI to run some or all of their background checks, state authorities generally are not aware when prohibited persons fail background checks run by the FBI. Individuals who are willing to “lie and try” to buy a gun may be dangerous and willing to obtain guns through other means. As a result, these states and D.C. lack critical law enforcement intelligence that they could use to try to keep their communities safe.

“This NICS Denial Notification Act requires the FBI to notify state law enforcement within 24 hours when a person who is prohibited from getting a gun, such as convicted felon, lies about their background in an attempt to buy one. That is, in itself, a federal felony and it goes almost entirely unprosecuted now,” said Senator Toomey. “We can make progress on gun safety while respecting the Second Amendment rights of American citizens, including better enforcing existing gun laws and responding to warning signs that we get of criminal behavior. This bipartisan bill is a critical step forward in helping to ensure that our communities can be safe from criminals.” 

“We have to find ways to work across the aisle to reduce gun violence, and the NICS Denial Notification Act is one modest, commonsense way to do that,” said Senator Coons. “By ensuring that state and federal law enforcement are working together to prevent those who shouldn’t be able to buy a gun from getting one, we can make our communities safer.  I’m hopeful this legislation can be part of Congress’s efforts to comprehensively address gun violence.”

“The Parkland shooter was able to carry out this horrific attack because of multi-systematic failures. While we work to ensure that our background check system contains the critical information necessary to be able to conduct an effective background check, we must also ensure that federal and state authorities are successfully communicating with one another when it comes to dangerous individuals and their attempts to acquire firearms,” said Senator Rubio. “The NICS Denial Notification Act would not only require federal authorities to flag background check denials for state-level authorities, it would also hold these federal officials accountable. This would be a strong step forward in preventing future tragedies. I urge my colleagues to immediately support this bipartisan legislation so that the president can swiftly sign it into law.”

“Efforts to reduce gun violence are only as good as the systems in place to prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining guns,” said Senator Nelson. “This bill is just another commonsense way to further those efforts to keep our communities safe from gun violence. I hope we can continue this conversation and continue to work together on comprehensive gun reform.”

About the NICS Denial Notification Act: 

·        Requires federal authorities to alert state law enforcement of background checks denials, so that state authorities can decide whether to investigate, prosecute, and/or keep an eye on these denied individuals for signs of future criminal activity

·        Requires DOJ to publish an annual report with statistics about its prosecution of background check denial cases, so Congress and voters can hold federal officials accountable.

·        Endorsed by: Fraternal Order of Police; Major Cities Chiefs Police Association; Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; National District Attorneys Association; National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Everytown for Gun Safety; Giffords

[VIDEO] Sen. Coons, Walter Russell Mead on Trump’s foreign policy, Sen. Coons’ recent trip to the Middle East and Europe

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today participated in a one-on-one discussion on the importance of U.S. international engagement at the Hudson Institute with Wall Street Journal Global View columnist Walter Russell Mead. The conversation covered Senator Coons’ recent trip to Europe and the Middle East, the Trump Administration’s foreign policy, the challenges posed by Russia and China, the Democratic Party’s approach to international affairs, and the importance of bipartisan, public support for the U.S. role in the world.

Full video and audio of Senator Coons’ conversation is available here.

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons on Trump inaction against Russian interference, Kushner security clearance, Mueller investigation

Sen. Coons: White House scandals show “broader theme about lack of action on our national interests, our national security interests, interests in protecting our next election and in having people in the highest levels in the White House who are transparent and accountable” 

Sen. Coons: Kushner situation “shows an ongoing pattern of failure to take seriously the protection of national security concerns” 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday joined CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to discuss recent developments in the Trump Administration. 

“What I’m more broadly concerned about is that the president continues to tweet that the investigation by Robert Mueller is a witch hunt,” said Senator Coons. “We had testimony by Admiral Rogers, who runs the National Security Agency, in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that the President is failing to take seriously the threat from Russian interference in our last election and most likely our next election. There’s a broader theme about lack of action on our national interests, our national security interests, interests in protecting our next election and in having people in the highest levels in the White House who are transparent and accountable.” 

Full video and audio available here.

Excerpts from the interview are below: 

Sen. Coons on Jared Kushner: There is. This is a really striking development and long overdue. I’ve just returned from a bipartisan trip to the Middle East. One of the issues raised in a number of meetings that we attended was expectations or hopes and concerns about the Administration’s long-awaited peace plan for the Middle East, something Jared Kushner has had a central role in crafting. The fact that he’s been deprived of his top-secret clearance, he’s been downgraded because of his failure to be fully forthcoming about his entanglements in his business side and his previous contacts suggests he is not in a position to continue to carry forward the significant role in this White House that he’s been entrusted with. For him to be the person carrying forward, an important peace plan in the Middle East at the same time that he lacks a top security clearance, I don’t think that’s workable going forward. 

More on Kushner: I think the President should appoint someone else, preferably someone with relevant senior experience with diplomacy and international affairs and I think he should find another opportunity for Jared Kushner to serve either in the Administration or to continue to pursue his private business interests.

More on Kushner:  I think he made the right choice in having his chief of staff having made the right decision and not allowing his own personal relationship with Jared Kushner, his son-in-law cloud his judgment about whether he should have access to the very top secrets of the American people.

More on Kushner: That would be a bad step by the President. I think it would show continued conflation of personal and family interests with national interests.

Sen. Coons on whether he is worried about this: I’m concerned this shows an ongoing pattern of failure to take seriously the protection of national security concerns by the very inner circle in the Trump Administration because there are overlapping personal and professional and national concerns.

Sen. Coons on Hope Hicks: Previously both Steve Bannon and Corey Lewandowski refused to answer questions claiming executive privilege and as was seen in a clip from Adam Schiff just a few minutes ago on this show, that’s an executive privilege that’s not theirs to exert. Hope Hicks may also find yourself in some trouble with the committee about why she’s refusing to answer questions about her role in the Trump White House.  

More on Hope Hicks:  That might well shield her from questions from Congress about activities within the White House but it depends what exact matter they’re going after. I do think you can’t shield illegal action behind executive privilege. That’s an arguable proposition and Robert Mueller’s investigation, which is looking into potential obstruction of justice may also have questions for Ms. Hicks, depending on how this goes in front of the House Intelligence Committee. 

More on Hope Hicks: It’s funny because earlier today as I was getting some briefings from my own communications people they said Hope Hicks has been testifying for hours and I said “What’s her role?” And they said “She’s the communications director.” I was unclear that she was the White House communications director for that reason. She’s not frequently seen publicly commenting on behalf of the White House. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her play the role that is typical for a White House communications director.

Sen. Coons on accountability in the White House:  What I’m more broadly concerned about is that the president continues to tweet that the investigation by Robert Mueller is a witch hunt. We had testimony by Admiral Rogers, who runs the National Security Agency, in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that the President is failing to take seriously the threat from Russian interference in our last election and most likely our next election. There’s a broader theme about lack of action on our national interests, our national security interests, interests in protecting our next election and in having people in the highest levels in the White House who are transparent and accountable. 

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