[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: “The President winks at or toys with or actively embraces racist instincts and gives voice to them”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday joined CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to discuss President Trump’s latest comments on immigrants and North Korea. 

“This shows a president who at times is much more concerned about playing to his own base or continuing the nativist or at times racist themes of his campaign rather than governing successfully. He was on the verge of having exactly the bipartisan deal on addressing border security and working with DACA that he had asked for just a few days ago in a hopeful bipartisan session that he hosted in the White House. This afternoon, a bipartisan group of senators announced they had reached a deal. And, given that government shutdown is looming just next week, something all of us would like to avoid, ought to avoid, the President throwing himself into this mix with this kind of slur is exactly ill-timed.” 

Video and audio available here.  

Excerpts from the interview:

Senator Coons on President Trump’s comment about immigrants: It says to me that President Trump doesn’t understand what makes America truly great, which is that we have a long history of welcoming people from around the world, of embracing folks who come here as immigrants or as refugees from troubled places around the world who are coming here for opportunity and for freedom and who have contributed immensely to our country. As a number of commentators in the last half hour said, whose own family histories included coming here from countries that used to be disfavored, used to be the subject of these sorts of slurs, this is just beneath the presidency, but also suggests he doesn’t quite get what makes America great.

More on Trump: This shows a president who at times is much more concerned about playing to his own base or continuing the nativist or at times racist themes of his campaign rather than governing successfully. He was on the verge of having exactly the bipartisan deal on addressing border security and working with DACA that he had asked for just a few days ago in a hopeful bipartisan session that he hosted in the White House. This afternoon, a bipartisan group of senators announced they had reached a deal. And, given that government shutdown is looming just next week, something all of us would like to avoid, ought to avoid, the President throwing himself into this mix with this kind of slur is exactly ill-timed. It shows the worst in his instincts and his weaknesses as someone able to govern and lead.

More on the impact on policy: As we go into Martin Luther King weekend, as he faces important foreign policy decisions around Iran tomorrow, and in our ongoing confrontation with North Korea, his weird innuendo about how maybe he’s got a relationship where he’s speaking with Kim Jong-un of North Korea, suggests that this is a President who is governing or leading by tweet, by slur, and by innuendo. That’s no way to lead this great nation. 

More on Trump: Sadly, there is. The President has on many occasion shown himself to careen back and forth from positions that could be supported or embraced by a wide range of people, let’s support manufacturing, let’s build on our infrastructure, and then veers wildly over to the right to positions that are not just marginal, but genuinely nativist or even racist. 

Senator Coons on Rep. Cedric Richmond’s comment: That’s the chilling implication of the President’s remarks. Given what happened last year in Charlottesville, given the President’s failure to speak as the sort of moral leader that our country needs and expects, from a President in a moment like the Charlottesville demonstrations, and his abject failure to really stand up and address it in a way that was constructive or positive or healing, I agree with those comments, that it suggests a really troubling consistent theme that the President winks at or toys with or actively embraces racist instincts and gives voice to them.  

Senator Coons on the President’s WSJ interview on North Korea: It’s inconceivable that the President is publicly saying that he has a good relationship with Kim Jong-un. And, I have no idea what basis in fact he has for that assertion. Would it be good for our country if there were open lines of communication, if there were ongoing negotiations, if there was progress being made in terms of de-escalation and addressing the nuclear threat to South Korea, Japan, and to the United States that we face from Kim Jong-un, yes that would be good. And, my New Year’s resolution was to be hopeful, but there’s no basis in fact for this. We had a briefing earlier today on North Korea. I think it would be a huge surprise to the Senate to know that the President has been speaking directly to Kim Jong-un and that they’ve somehow developed a warm and positive relationship.  

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Coons, Isakson reintroduce legislation to protect access to health insurance advice for Americans

WASHINGTON –  U.S. Senators Chris Coons, D-Del., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would help protect access to professional advice and assistance for American consumers who are looking for affordable health insurance coverage that meets their personal needs.

The Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act, S.2303, addresses a provision of the Affordable Care Act that has caused health insurance agents and brokers to struggle to stay in business and serve the public.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ original interpretation of a clause in the Affordable Care Act known as the “medical loss ratio” has required health insurance carriers to treat commissions paid to independent agents and brokers as part of their administrative costs. This has unfortunately caused many health plans to reduce or even eliminate commissions and limited the availability of insurance agents’ services for consumers.

The senators’ bipartisan legislation would exclude from the medical loss ratio any compensation earned by independent agents and brokers who serve the individual and small group markets. 

“Our priority should always be to protect consumers and small businesses, ensuring they have access to the best possible health care coverage,” said Coons. “Our bipartisan bill will fix a provision in the health care law that is currently making it harder for independent agents and brokers to stay in business and serve consumers.”  

“This commonsense bill will protect American consumers who are navigating the health insurance market and will help them find coverage that is right for their needs by restoring access to insurance agents and brokers who have expertise in this area,” said Isakson. “I hope that it will move quickly to help independent brokers and the Americans they serve.”

This legislation is also supported by the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), and Health Agents for America, Inc. (HAFA).

“’Medical loss ratio’ has caused serious harm to agents and brokers and their ability to provide essential services to consumers who depend on them to assist with finding appropriate health insurance,” said National Association of Health Underwriters CEO Janet Trautwein. “If enacted, this bill would help ensure that individuals and businesses have access to agents and brokers who need their guidance now more than ever due to all of the market changes.” 

Isakson and Coons previously introduced the bipartisan legislation in 2015, during the last session of Congress. 

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Sens. Coons, Tillis statement on Reuters journalists in Burma

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, released the following statement.

“As co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, we urge the Burmese government to release Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. By charging these journalists and continuing to restrict access to Rakhine State, Burmese authorities are impeding efforts to hold accountable the perpetrators of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya. We reiterate our call on the Burmese government to respect the fundamental democratic value of press freedom.”

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Senators Introduce Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today introduced legislation to reform the Peace Corps. The Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 would improve access to medical care for volunteers, strengthen accountability and oversight, and enhance procedures to reduce the risk of crime in the countries in which volunteers serve. The legislation is named in honor of Nick Castle, of Brentwood, Calif., who lost his life at age 23 due to inadequate health care while serving in China in 2013. It was later determined by the inspector general that flaws in medical care and the response to his illness contributed to his death. Nick would have turned 28 today.  

“Very simple steps would have saved Nick’s life,” said Sue and David Castle, the parents of Nick Castle. “As parents, we have worked for legislation to ensure this never happens to another family, and we believe this legislation will make the changes that are needed. Nick wanted to make a difference in this world, but he didn’t have time to do that. We hope with the passing of this legislation that he can make a true lasting impact on the Peace Corps.

“I am always inspired by young people who actively seek ways to make a difference early in life,” said Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Peace Corps volunteers like Nick Castle, who spend 2-3 years overseas on behalf of our country, embody public service, and they deserve the very best support we can provide. This legislation not only provides much-needed oversight and accountability, but also will improve the care our volunteers receive while abroad and for service-related injuries when they return home. I look forward to advancing this bill in our committee very soon and hope to receive strong bipartisan support for our efforts to strengthen the Peace Corps.”

“No parent should have to endure the loss of their child due to inadequate health care,” said Feinstein. “In the face of their own loss, the Castles have pushed for reforms that will ensure future Peace Corps volunteers receive the best medical care possible. I’m proud to work with them and Senator Corker on this bill to honor Nick’s service. Our bill requires the Peace Corps to review and evaluate all medical staff, gives the inspector general new authorities to investigate volunteer deaths and allows the Peace Corps to provide continued care to returned volunteers for up to six months. I’m hopeful that Congress will quickly pass these overdue and common-sense reforms to let the Castles know Nick’s passing won’t be forgotten.”

“The dedicated men and women of the U.S. Peace Corps work hard to help communities and foster goodwill around the world,” said Isakson. “These volunteers have long been near and dear to my heart, and I am heartbroken for the Castles after the death of their son, Nick. This legislation continues the reforms we began with the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act and offers greater oversight and accountability to help care for and protect our Peace Corps volunteers wherever they may be working around the world.” 

“Peace Corps volunteers like Nick Castle support communities around the world,” said Coons. “I’m proud to work with Senators Corker, Feinstein, and Isakson to ensure that the U.S. government does its part to keep our volunteers safe, and to hold leadership of the agency accountable for their welfare. This bill will give volunteers access to the care they need as they promote peace and friendship abroad.”

The Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 contains the following key provisions.

Peace Corps Volunteer Support: 

·         Ensures the Peace Corps hires well-qualified personnel capable of administering effective health care services for volunteers

·         Provides the director the authority necessary to appropriately review and evaluate the performance of all current medical staff

·         Requires the director to implement recommendations made by the Peace Corps inspector general and requires subsequent reports to Congress

·         Extends existing health care coverage for service-related injuries three months after volunteers return from service

Peace Corps Oversight and Accountability: 

·         Provides volunteers with direct access to the inspector general

·         Requires the director to notify Congress of the opening or closure of offices and country programs

·         Requires public disclosure of the results of volunteer surveys on satisfaction in each country in which volunteers serve, as well as the early termination rate 

Crime Risk Reduction Enhancements: 

·         Requires the director to make evidence and information regarding a volunteers’ death available to the inspector general in order to facilitate an independent review of such incidents

·         Maintains records verifying each individual has completed the training required by the Peace Corps Act

·         Provides applicants with information regarding crimes and risks to volunteers in the country in which they are invited to serve

·         Extends and enhances expiring programs, first authorized by the Kate Puzey Act, that provide services to volunteers who have been a victim of sexual assault

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons on White House meeting: “Is [Trump] just trying to change the conversation for a day? Or is he trying to demonstrate real leadership?”

Sen. Coons: “That sort of leadership could produce real bipartisan progress and I have to remain hopeful that that’s possible.”

Sen. Coons: “This system doesn’t work without compromise.”

WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss yesterday’s bipartisan meeting on immigration reform at the White House.  

“The challenge for those of us who have been sent here by our states to do what our system requires is that we find ways to compromise. I’m willing to work with our President if that would move forward a resolution to the legal status of the 800,000 young people currently in limbo. I’m willing to work with our President if that will get a real infrastructure bill done in a constructive way. I’m not willing to work with our President where he violates fundamental values or puts at risk the rule of law.”

Full video and audio available here. 

Excerpts from the interview:

Senator Coons on White House meeting on immigration reform: Well, my New Year’s resolution is to be hopeful, to be positive, so I think there are millions of Americans who voted for President Trump thinking that they were getting a businessman who knew how to bring people together, to cut big deals, and to sort of get through some of the divisions of Washington. That’s not the President we’ve seen last year. But, for a variety of reasons, he’s realized that that’s the President he needs to be in order to be successful as President and in order for the Republican Party to survive the 2018 elections. So, what I thought we saw yesterday in that meeting, both in the visuals and the conversation, was a President really trying to be and sound reasonable on a compromise around the Dreamers, on DACA. But, we’re coming up against a very difficult deadline that, I’ll remind you, he created. And, we’ve got nearly 800,000 young Americans who are really at risk of losing their place in our society, and there is a big gap between the right in the Republican Party and the majority of the country on immigration. We passed a broad, bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill in the last Congress in the Senate by an overwhelming bipartisan vote. Never got taken up in the House. The politics of immigration are very hard. But, if the President chooses to make this not just a one day photo op, but to show real leadership here, he actually could move us forward by getting a resolution to the status of Dreamers and new investment in border security. 

More on immigration reform: I think it is a possibility. If you think about it, it was Nixon, the hard-lined anti-communist who opened to China to have someone who ran on a hard-lined anti-immigrant campaign platform be willing to genuinely embrace a bipartisan solution could finally get us over this hurdle. But, President Obama, President Bush, Congressional leaders of both parties over many Congresses have tried very hard. The politics in the Republican Party of allowing a pathway to citizenship for folks who came here even through no fault of their own as children is very difficult. But, this is the President. President Trump is the President who could get that done. And, I’ll remind you, that comprehensive immigration reform bill that was taken up and passed by the Senate scored as adding hundreds of billions of dollars to our GDP, it would help deal with some of the deficit problems that the tax bill he just signed into law may well create. It really could be a win for every sector of our society and economy. 

More on DACA: There’s certainly partisan politics in both parties and for every electoral cycle. The challenge for those of us who have been sent here by our states to do what our system requires is that we find ways to compromise. I’m willing to work with our President if that would move forward a resolution to the legal status of the 800,000 young people currently in limbo. I’m willing to work with our President if that will get a real infrastructure bill done in a constructive way. I’m not willing to work with our President where he violates fundamental values or puts at risk the rule of law. I’m working diligently, hard on the Judiciary Committee to protect Robert Mueller and to make sure that he’s able to advance his investigation, but I also extend an open hand to work with the administration on advancing manufacturing. I was just with SBA Administrator from the Trump administration in Delaware welcoming her to tour a great small business in Delaware; it’s one of the committees I serve on. I have no problem working with the Trump administration where they’re doing good things that will help create jobs or make our country safer or more just. But, I do think to your point that the Trump administration, that President Trump has done things and continues to do things that requires Democrats to stand up.  

Senator Coons on Trump and bipartisanship: The proof will be in the pudding. We’ll see in a matter of days whether what happened yesterday was simply a publicity stunt that allowed the President to once again change the narrative, so that today everything that we’re talking about this morning on television is about this promising start to bipartisan conversation around DACA and immigration reform rather than the President’s fitness for office. Is he just trying to change the conversation for a day? Or is he trying to demonstrate real leadership? It would require real political sacrifice for him to sign into law something that overcame the opposition of a hardcore group of House Republicans to any pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. That sort of leadership could produce real bipartisan progress and I have to remain hopeful that that’s possible, or it’s just not worth getting on the train every morning from Wilmington, Delaware, to get down here to Washington to do this job. This system doesn’t work without compromise. And, I was struck that the President just threw out casually into the mix yesterday that he thinks we should bring back earmarks; that Congress should have some role in directing appropriations. That’s one of many ways in which our budget, our appropriations process, is broken. We don’t have an opportunity to identify specific projects in our home states that get vetted, that benefit a public purpose, and that is one the reasons why we haven’t had a full and productive appropriations process in the seven years that I’ve been here, but that was a stunning change in position from many in his party and many in his base. Will he follow through on that and continue to support the idea of some sort of new, but transparent earmark? Will he follow through on yesterday’s meeting and take substantive actions that might inflame his base? We’ll see. That’s the challenge of leadership. 

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Delaware Senators voice opposition to President Trump’s decision to reopen offshore drilling leases

WILMINGTON, DE – United States Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined more than three dozen of their colleagues in sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s decision to revisit the offshore drilling program three years ahead of schedule with the intent of opening significantly more areas to oil and gas leasing. This decision puts vast stretches of coastline along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and in the Arctic at risk.

“This draft proposal is an ill-advised effort to circumvent public and scientific input, and we object to sacrificing public trust, community safety, and economic security for the interests of the oil industry,” the Senators wrote today in a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. “We urge you to abandon this effort and maintain the protections outlined in the current 2017-2022 plan.”

The Trump administration’s decision to push a rewrite of the existing 2017-2022 offshore drilling plan has wasted valuable taxpayer resources and ignored extensive community input that went into the original plan. In many locations across the country, including in many Delaware coastal communities, public input urged strong protections against drilling, as coastal communities that rely on commercial fishing and tourism for their economies feared the impacts that drilling and the potential of spills could have on their ecosystems, businesses and jobs.

In addition to Senators Carper and Coons, the letter was signed by Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Bob Casey (D-PA).

Gov. Carney, Delaware delegation respond to bill that would hurt U.S. economy, change bankruptcy venue laws

WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Governor John Carney (D) and Delaware’s congressional delegation, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), issued the following statement after U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced legislation that would restrict businesses’ venue options when filing for bankruptcy and hurt the U.S. economy.

Currently, many American businesses, including more than two-thirds of those in the Fortune 500, incorporate in Delaware in order to access Delaware’s world-class bench and bar with exceptional expertise in corporate legal issues and bankruptcy. The Cornyn-Warren bill would hurt businesses across the country and deal a significant blow to Delaware’s economy, risking thousands of jobs in the legal and business services sectors, as well as industries serving those traveling to Delaware for business.

“Many American companies, large and small, choose to incorporate in Delaware because of the expertise and experience of our judges, attorneys, and business leaders. Denying American businesses the ability to file for bankruptcy in the courts of their choice would not only hurt Delaware’s economy but also hurt businesses of all sizes and the national economy as a whole. This is a misguided policy, and we strongly oppose it,” Governor Carney and Delaware’s Congressional Delegation said in a joint statement. “Our economy thrives when the bankruptcy system is fair, predictable, and efficient. Experienced bankruptcy judges are critical to ensuring that companies can restructure in a way that saves jobs and preserves value. Scrapping the venue laws that have been in place for decades and replacing them with restrictions flies in the face of well-settled principles of corporate law, threatens jobs, and hurts our economy.”

The Cornyn/Warren bill would limit companies’ choices by eliminating domicile from the venue options permitted when filing a Chapter 11 case. This would upend decades of precedent allowing businesses to file for Chapter 11 in the jurisdiction where they are incorporated.  Currently, Delaware attracts complex Chapter 11 cases from businesses located all of the country that are incorporated in Delaware, and thus the bankruptcy judges in Delaware are experienced in handling these difficult restructuring cases.  Study after study shows that experienced bankruptcy courts promote predictability and post-restructuring survival.

University of Pennsylvania law professor David Skeel testified in a House of Representatives hearing and stated venue reform would have severe negative repercussions to the established bankruptcy system.

“It [venue reform] would overturn a long history of bankruptcy practice; it would undermine the effectiveness of our corporate bankruptcy system; it would increase the administrative costs of the system; and it would not help the very parties the proposal is ostensibly designed to help.”

VIDEO: Sen. Coons reads school closings on local Delaware radio station

WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) this morning guest-starred on 101.7 FM/1150 AM WDEL to read school closings from the SnoWatch List.

Full audio and video of Senator Coons’ guest appearance are available here.

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: “Rarely in American history has a President ever so publicly attacked the Department of Justice”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday joined CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to discuss President Trump’s comments about the Department of Justice and the FBI as well as the continued protests in Iran. 

“I’m concerned that a number of House Republicans are making increasingly baseless attacks on the Department of Justice and the FBI, and that this is not just demoralizing to federal law enforcement but destabilizing to the rule of law,” said Senator Coons.

“It seems hard to believe that if this Trump campaign aide, Papadopoulos, had access to very damaging dirt on Hillary Clinton, stolen by the Russians and proffered to him, that he felt so enthusiastic about, that he was bragging about it to a senior Australian ambassador serving in London, it seems hard to believe that he then also wouldn’t share it with the Trump campaign,” said Senator Coons.

Full audio and video available here.

Excerpts from the interview below:

Senator Coons on President Trump’s tweet: This suggests that 2018 is going to be every bit as unsettling as 2017 with regards to unfocused tweets by the President trying to shake the very foundations of our democratic order. Previous Presidents may have been unhappy with the Department of Justice or may have wanted them to do things, but rarely in American history has a President ever so publicly attacked the Department of Justice, and in this particular tweet, he lays out three different names–his former opponent, Hillary Clinton, her aide, Huma Abedin, and the former FBI Director whom he fired, Jim Comey–and suggests in a wandering and unfocused tweet that somehow they should all be investigated, that jail might be an appropriate outcome, and that the DOJ, which is opposing him because it is part of some rumored Deep State needs to now finally act. This is a really troubling attempt by our President to continue to try to undermine the rule of law and to suggest that somehow the Department of Justice should take direction from him over Twitter.  

More on President Trump and the DOJ: Yes, I’m concerned that although the President’s lawyers continue to say that they will fully cooperate with Robert Mueller’s investigation, that the President’s erratic behavior on Twitter, his shifting back and forth and the statements like the one you just read suggests that he might abruptly take action such as firing Robert Mueller before his investigation can fully conclude.  

More on the DOJ and FBI: Well, I’m concerned that a number of House Republicans are making increasingly baseless attacks on the Department of Justice and the FBI, and that this is not just demoralizing to federal law enforcement but destabilizing to the rule of law. To have folks in office trying to assist the President in his ongoing effort to undermine this investigation. This is not constructive and I think it is in everyone’s interest–Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate–for these investigations to be allowed to move forward to their logical conclusion, and if they reach the conclusion there was no collusion, so be it. If they reach a conclusion that there was, then I think rule of law demands we follow those conclusions, but this sort of effort by Devin Nunes, the House Republican Chair of the Intelligence Committee, to open a side investigation without consulting the full membership of the committee is another troubling development. 

Senator Coons on the Russia probe: It seems hard to believe that if this Trump campaign aide, Papadopoulos, had access to very damaging dirt on Hillary Clinton, stolen by the Russians and proffered to him, that he felt so enthusiastic about, that he was bragging about it, to a senior Australian ambassador serving in London, it seems hard to believe that he then also wouldn’t share it with the Trump campaign. This is a compelling lead that is worthy of being followed up and it suggests that there may yet be evidence that ties the path of the emails that were hacked by the Russians from the DNC and the Trump campaign. 

Senator Coons on Iran: I do think it’s important for leaders in the United States, including our President, to speak out on behalf of and in support of human rights around the world. I was surprised that even Rouhani, the leader of Iran, the elected leader of Iran, recently said that there is a right to protest, something previous Iranian leaders have not recognized or celebrated, but clearly the internal security services are already cracking down fairly hard on protests. I think it is important that we continue to speak out in support of the Iranian people as they try to pursue their own goals. The regime that has held sway in Iran since 1979 is brutal and repressive. I’m the co-chair with Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, and we put out a bipartisan statement in sympathy and solidarity with the Iranian people as they try to express their desires for more economic freedom and more political freedom. 

More on Iran: I don’t think the Iranian regime is a friend of the United States, of democracy, or of human rights. But, I also think that our ability to actually effect regime change in Iran is very limited. And, I think it’s important that we talk about these demonstrations in ways that can’t be misused by the Iranian regime for propaganda purposes internally. As your previous conversation with Jim Sciutto suggested, access to the internet, access through social media to each other in Iran is an absolutely vital piece of making it possible for the Iranian people to express themselves. And, there are steps we can take to help ensure that those who are seeking to express themselves continue to have free access to the internet. Other repressive regimes around the world tried to shut off the internet or censor the internet, and it’s important that we continue to encourage free access to the internet around the world.  

More on Iran: An important part of the record here is that the Iran Nuclear Deal was a deal about just that, about Iran’s nuclear program. It didn’t restrict the United States’ ability to take action against Iran’s bad behavior with regards to human rights or support for terrorism or its ballistic missile program, and on a strong bipartisan basis this past year, Congress did just that, we gave the President the power to impose stronger sanctions against Iran on those specific areas, human rights violations, ballistic missiles, support for terrorism. I would be concerned that if the President were to tear up the Iran Nuclear Deal, it would further distance us from our European allies who were vital partners in that work and it would remove any remaining restrictions on the Iranians from racing forward towards a nuclear weapon. We already have a significant strategic challenge with North Korea, we don’t need a nuclear-armed Iran facing us with another challenge. 

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Senator Coons’ statement on Senator Hatch’s retirement

WILMINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) announced that he will retire at the end of his term.

“It has been a privilege to serve in the United States Senate with Orrin Hatch, a man who has spent decades honorably serving this country and his home state of Utah.  I’ve been grateful to work across the aisle with Senator Hatch on a variety of issues, from working to protect American trade secrets and data privacy to supporting the U.S. Marshals Service.  In particular, I’m very proud that we were able to pass our joint legislation, the Defend Trade Secrets Act, into law in 2016.  Annie and I wish Senator Hatch and his family all the best and congratulate him on an historic career in the Senate.” 

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