WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Jon Tester (D-MT) today introduced bipartisan legislation to recognize the economic accomplishments of the U.S.-Israel economic partnership and support new agreements for collaboration across a variety of sectors within the technology sphere.
Since the signing of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement, Israel has become one of our country’s most dynamic economic collaborators in the Middle East and North Africa. Today, individual states are partnering with Israel to collaborate on life-changing medical breakthroughs and clean energy technology. This legislation supports and improves on these partnerships.
“Israel is a hub for innovation, and our strong alliance has paved the way for great economic opportunities,” said Senator Perdue. “We will continue working with Prime Minister Netanyahu to explore new areas for collaboration across the economic spectrum.”
“I am proud to cosponsor a resolution that commemorates the strong economic ties between the United States and Israel and highlights opportunities for increased partnerships in fields such as agriculture, cybersecurity, and medicine,” said Senator Coons. “I continue to be impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit of the Israeli people and will work with my colleagues to counter the economic isolation of Israel.”
“The U.S.-Israel alliance not only plays an important role to ensure peace and stability across the globe, but also serves both countries economic interests,” said Senator Gardner. “As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel highlights the benefits of a free society. Strong economic ties between our two nations has led to a partnership that both countries can be proud of, and as we look toward the future, we must continue to find ways we can work together to develop new technologies that will change the world.”
“Israel is one of our strongest allies in the world and our economic partnership only strengthens this alliance,” said Senator Tester. “I look forward to expanding our diplomatic and economic relationship with Israel for decades to come.”
The senators were joined by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) in introducing S. Res. 90 which seeks to: (1) affirm the robustness of the economic relationship; (2) recognize that science and technology innovation present new frontiers for economic cooperation; (3) encourage the Administration to expand and regularize existing forums of economic dialogue with Israel; and (4) support the exploration of new agreements, including in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, medicine, neurotechnology and cybersecurity.
U.S. Congressmen Ted Lieu (D-CA-33) and Ted Poe (R-TX-02) today introduced companion legislation to S. Res. 90 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined NPR Morning Edition to discuss the confirmation hearings for Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, and the ongoing investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.
“Well, he’s certainly a charming conservative—what I’d call a ‘smiling Scalia’—he comes across well, he’s engaging,” said Senator Coons. “I think it’s important to look past the personality and to really understand his framework and his approach to decision-making, because, if confirmed, he will likely be a Justice for 25-30 years.”
“There is a lot of smoke. And the smoke continues. There were just some more alarming allegations about Paul Manafort, who was Trump’s campaign manager, that he laundered I think it was $12 million in funds from Yanukovych, who was the former strong man of Ukraine and very close to Putin,” said Senator Coons. “There continues to be a lot of smoke, but what I think is encouraging about the news delivered by FBI Director Comey is that it’s clear that there is an investigation moving forward.
Senator Coons on yesterday’s confirmation hearing: “Well, he held up impressively under 11 hours of questioning. He’s certainly a charming, engaging, intelligent, and skilled judge. In his decade on the 10th Circuit, he’s participated in 2,700 decisions. I focused my questions yesterday on two different areas: Hobby Lobby, which was a groundbreaking case that for the first time recognized the idea—what I think is the unprecedented concept—that large for-profit corporations can have religious Free Exercise rights, and that those religious Free Exercise rights overrule the privacy interests, the autonomy interests of thousands of employees, and barred their access to contraceptive choices. I was hoping to better understand how he came to these conclusions and whether he appreciated how unprecedented that decision was, and whether he was able to articulate and defend how he reached those decisions. I also asked about a lengthy book that he wrote on assisted suicide just over 10 years ago, where he emphasized the inviolability of human life. Both of these I think are pretty important principles that he has reached out and made precedent-shattering or precedent-setting decisions, or indicated an intention to, and that he’s taken certain stances when he worked for the Bush Justice Department and in that book about assisted suicide that I think are pretty strong indicators of what I think many of his core values may be.”
More from Senator Coons on Judge Gorsuch: “Well, he’s certainly a charming conservative—what I’d call a ‘smiling Scalia’—he comes across well, he’s engaging. I think it’s important to look past the personality and to really understand his framework and his approach to decision-making, because, if confirmed, he will likely be a Justice for 25-30 years.”
Senator Coons on whether he will support Judge Gorsuch’s nomination: “I’m not there yet. We have two more days of hearings, and then a week for us to sort of process everything. I’ve heard the same as you mentioned from a number of practitioners who are my friends or classmates who either appeared in front of him or litigated with or against him say he’s engaging, has great integrity, has an open mind. He is an impressive judge, but I have real concerns about just how conservative he actually is.”
Senator Coons on whether recent announcements about the FBI put a greater emphasis on whether Judge Gorsuch can stand independent to this president: “I think it makes it more important than ever that we have clarity both about how he came to be nominated, whether he’s actually going to stand for an independent judiciary, his views on the separation of powers, and a number of senators have dedicated their questioning on focusing on that.”
Senator Coons on whether he thinks the Congressional and FBI investigations into possible cooperation between the Trump campaign and Russia will be conclusive: “There is a lot of smoke. And the smoke continues. There were just some more alarming allegations about Paul Manafort, who was Trump’s campaign manager, that he laundered I think it was $12 million in funds from Yanukovych, who was the former strong man of Ukraine and very close to Putin. There continues to be a lot of smoke, but what I think is encouraging about the news delivered by FBI Director Comey is that it’s clear that there is an investigation moving forward. To the best of my knowledge, the Senate Intelligence Committee continues to cooperate and continues to get access to raw intelligence, so I think we need to let these investigations move forward.”
Senator Coons on how long these investigations should go on: “I think they’ve been working for at most a few weeks; the FBI investigation since late last summer. I thought it was striking that the FBI Director is now saying that there’s an ongoing investigation involving Trump, and he didn’t feel compelled to say that when it may have made a big difference in the campaign. He did indicate there was some ongoing investigation into emails related to Secretary Clinton, but did not indicate anything to suggest there an ongoing investigation involving then-candidate Trump despite there being lots of concerning signals as early as last summer that there had in fact been Russian efforts to intrude into our electoral system. This is not just about the last election, though, it’s about the next election, and it’s about what we are going to do together to defend our democracy.”
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. Full video and audio of his Q&A is available here.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined together as a regional delegation to protest President Trump’s appropriation goals that would eliminate funding to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program and cut funding to core programs aimed at restoring the bay’s ecosystem, undermining the Chesapeake Bay Watershed’s fundamental role in the region’s economic vitality.
“President Trump’s budget cannot be taken seriously. He claims to want to help strengthen our economy and create jobs while simultaneously wanting to eliminate critical federal investments that allow Chesapeake Bay states like Maryland to prosper,” said Senator Cardin. “The president needs to understand that a healthy Bay means a healthy economy and this cannot be accomplished without a strong federal partner. Less pollution means more oysters and crabs, healthier farmland, more boats and tourism on the water, and more jobs. As a region, we are urging appropriators to quickly reject the president’s budget before the absurdity of his proposed cuts causes ripples of uncertainty and fear across the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed economy.”
“Thousands of Delawareans and millions across our region depend on a clean and healthy Chesapeake Bay. Slashing the funding that allows the EPA to maintain this environmental and economic resource is short-sighted and irresponsible,” said Senator Carper. “It’s critical that we keep fighting to protect the Chesapeake Bay so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy it the same way we have for generations.”
“At a time when Chesapeake Bay health is finally showing signs of improvement, this Administration ought to be doubling down on efforts to reduce pollution, not drastically cutting back,” said Senator Casey. “I will continue to fight for additional resources to help Pennsylvania and all Chesapeake Bay states meet their cleanup obligations.”
“The President’s budget proposal to entirely eliminate funding for the Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort is incredibly short-sighted. The Chesapeake Bay is an essential economic engine in this region, supporting thousands of jobs in the fishery and tourism industries and generating millions in revenue each year,” said Senator Warner. “Since the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Program in 1983, we’ve seen tremendous improvements in the health of the Bay. I strongly urge congressional appropriators to reject the President’s request, and look forward to working with the entire regional delegation to Congress to ensure we don’t endanger the years of progress that have been made in restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”
“Cutting the programs that protect our clean water won’t create good-paying jobs, it won’t raise wages for workers in the region, and it certainly won’t make anyone healthier,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Congress should reject President Trump’s irresponsible budget proposal and instead fight for funding that protects the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of all Americans.”
“As I have said, I haven’t met a West Virginian that doesn’t want clean air to breathe and clean water to drink,” said Senator Manchin. “The Chesapeake Bay is an invaluable body of water that does wonders for our ecosystem. I am proud of the work that has been done through these programs to restore the nation’s largest estuary, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to maintain their existence.”
“We are blessed in Delaware with lands and waterways that are a source of pride, including the Nanticoke River,” said Senator Coons. “The Chesapeake Bay supports the livelihoods of millions across our region, and our state agencies and landowners rely on this funding to ensure that we can continue to be careful stewards of the bay. I will keep fighting to ensure that we can continue to preserve the health of this vital resource.”
“Because of bipartisan support for Chesapeake Bay cleanup, pollution is down, oyster and crab populations are up, and more people are able to enjoy the Bay. Saving the Bay is good for the environment and good for the economy,” said Senator Kaine. “In his joint address to Congress, President Trump stated that his Administration will work to ‘promote clean air and clean water.’ But today, just two weeks later, his budget proposes to eliminate the Chesapeake Bay Program. It is clear now what the President’s promises are worth.”
“The budget cuts proposed by President Trump would seriously damage our efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay – and threaten the jobs that depend on a healthy Bay ecosystem,” saidSenator Van Hollen. “There is absolutely no justification for loosening rules on polluters and dismantling the Bay cleanup effort, which is what the Administration’s proposal would do. We must stand together and fight for the Bay so that the watermen, the tourism and boating industries, and all those who value clean water and clean air are protected from the Trump Administration’s assault on our environment.”
The text of the letter follows and can be found here.
March 17, 2017
Dear Chairmen Shelby, Alexander and Murkowski, and Hoeven, and Ranking Members Shaheen, Feinstein, Udall, and Merkley:
As Senators from the six-state Chesapeake Bay watershed region, we have a strong interest in maintaining and restoring clean water throughout the region. We write you because we are particularly concerned that the President’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Blueprint proposes a drastic decrease across federal agency partners’ budgets for programs that benefit the Chesapeake Bay region. Cutting the overall funding to the Bay will reverse the improvements to water quality in our region that our states have worked to attain in a bipartisan, cooperative manner for decades.
We thank the Subcommittee for your continued leadership in providing the support necessary to achieve clean water, both in the Chesapeake Bay itself and its source water. As you develop spending priorities for Fiscal Year 2018, we urge you to continue your strong support for on-going efforts to achieve clean water in our region and our nation.
More than 11 million people in our region obtain their drinking water directly from the rivers and streams that flow through our cities, farms, and towns, and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay watershed states are investing in efforts to restore clean, safe water to the Chesapeake and its tributaries. But their efforts cannot succeed without strong and sustained federal support.
There are a number of programs administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that we urge you to continue funding at least at the same level as enacted in Fiscal Year 2016.
EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program. The Program coordinates Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration and conservation efforts throughout our region. The majority of its funds are passed through to the states and local communities for on-the-ground restoration projects. We urge you to reject the Chesapeake Bay Program elimination in the President’s FY2018 Budget Blueprint. The Program was funded at $73 million in FY2016;[1] we strongly urge at least continued funding at that level. Additionally, we urge you to continue directing EPA to provide at least $6 million for the Small Watershed Grants and at least $6 million for the Nutrient and Sediment Removal Grants, as enacted in FY2016. These two grant programs are critical for local restoration efforts and leverage, on average, three times more non-federal money for each project. As our region’s waters improve, more and not fewer people want to utilize the many ecological, cultural, and historic resources the Chesapeake Bay has to offer.
State and Tribal Assistance Grants, Clean Water State Revolving Fund. A key federal program for our region, as well as for the rest of the nation, is the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). This program is critical to the 1,779 local governments throughout the Chesapeake region. Investments in water and wastewater infrastructure provide significant economic benefits to our communities. Each dollar leverages another $2.62 in economic output in other industries, and each job created in this sector creates 3.68 jobs in the national economy.
State and Tribal Assistance Grants, Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants (CWA 319). Our states are implementing agricultural, urban, and residential best management practices with the support of Section 319(h) grants. States also provide significant project management and technical assistance to local stakeholders to install these practices. The President’s FY2018 Budget Blueprint provides EPA Categorical Grants with $597 million, “a $482 million reduction below 2017 annualized CR levels”—a 45% reduction—but does not specify which of those grants will be eliminated or substantially reduced. We are concerned that applying an across-the-board 45% cut would reduce State and Tribal Assistance Grants for Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants from a $231 million FY2016 enacted level to $126 million in FY2018. We urge you to support at least the same funding level enacted in FY2016.
Pollution Control Grants (CWA 106). These grants help states in the Bay watershed manage the federal water pollution permit program, or NPDES. Under the Clean Water Act, it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant into US waters without a NPDES permit. Without sufficient funding, this permit process gets bogged down, resulting in business losses and reduced permit monitoring and enforcement. An effective permit program is the backbone of the Bay watershed cleanup. A potential 45% cut in Categorical Grants would reduce funding for Pollution Control Grants from a $165 million FY2016 enacted level to $91 million in FY2018. We urge you to support at least the same funding level enacted in FY2016.
There are also a number of programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture that we urge you to continue funding at least at the same level enacted in Fiscal Year 2016.
Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, including the Rivers of the Chesapeake initiative, helps protect large-scale landscapes throughout the Bay watershed. By working with willing sellers to acquire or place under easement high priority lands throughout the watershed, agencies can enhance habitat connectivity for the protection of rare and endangered species, preserve the scenic integrity of National Trails, preserve land associated with Civil War battlefields and American Indian heritage, protect forests important for Bay water quality, and enhance public access to waterways. The 12% cut, if applied across-the-board, would reduce funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund from a $450 million FY2016 enacted level—$126 million in USDA programs and $324 in DOI programs—to $396 million in FY2018. We urge you to support at least the same funding level enacted in FY2016.
Natural Programs. Each year, more and more people want to utilize the unique resources of the Chesapeake Bay, and the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office works to increase public access and the use of ecological, cultural and historic resources of the region. A 12% cut applied across the board would reduce funding for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Trails ($2 million FY2016 enacted level to $1.76 million in FY2018); Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail ($386,000 FY2016 enacted level to $339,680 in FY2018); Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail ($490,000 FY2016 enacted level to $431,200 in FY2018); and support for coordinating these programs through the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office ($479,000 FY2016 enacted level to $421,520 in FY2018). We urge you to support at least the same funding levels enacted in FY2016.
Finally, the Army Corps of Engineers provides critical support to the Bay cleanup effort. We urge you to support at least the same funding level enacted in Fiscal Year 2016.
Environmental Restoration. The Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Project has helped construct and seed new oyster reefs, which increase the oyster population and improve water clarity as those oysters filter water when they feed. The Army Corps’ efforts advance the goal of restoring oyster populations in 20 Bay tributaries by 2025, and play an important role in meeting state water quality goals in the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint through strong partnerships with the states. The FY2016 enacted level was $479 million for the Army Corps’ Environmental Restoration account, which provides $2 million in funding for the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Project. If the Army Corps’ overall budget is cut by $1 billion—a 16.67% cut—it could reduce the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program from $2 million to $1.7 million. We urge you to support at least the same funding level enacted in FY2016.
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary. Its watershed encompasses 64,000 square miles and is home to nearly 18 million Americans. Restoration of the Chesapeake ecosystem is a high-priority goal for the people of this region, one that for year after year unites us like no other objective. The federal partnership has been proven to provide the engine to unite efforts across the states to effectively address this long-term challenge. We hold continuing this partnership as the priority for the region. Thank you again for your continuing support for our states’ priorities.
WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, previewed his questions for President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, in an exclusive interview with The Christian Science Monitor.
The Christian Science Monitor: In Gorsuch hearings, questions of religious liberty and the law
By Henry Gass
Of all the people to speak on the first day of what promises to be a grueling week of hearings, Judge Neil Gorsuch – the man whose confirmation to the US Supreme Court is being deliberated – was notably concise.
[…]
“That he comes down on side of religious liberty, even when it significantly infringes on the autonomy and liberty interests of large numbers of people, I think that’s an interesting area worthy of further explanation,” says Sen. Chris Coons (D) of Delaware, a member of the Judiciary Committee, in an exclusive interview with the Monitor.
For a country founded as a sanctuary for people fleeing religious persecution and marginalization around the world, “I think [those questions] should be subject to special consideration,” he adds. “The balance of faith and freedom, the balance of free exercise rights and autonomy or self-determination rights, are pretty fundamental questions that go back to the foundation of our country.”
WASHINGTON –As Iraqi Prime MinisterHaider Al-Abadi visits Washington, U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan letter to President Donald J. Trump urging continued U.S. support to foster unity and stability in Iraq. In addition to Corker and Cardin, the letter was signed by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and James E. Risch (R-Idaho).
Text of the letter is included below.
Dear President Trump:
We write to you united in our desire to see the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi people seize the opportunity of the forthcoming defeat of ISIS on the battlefield. The Iraqi Security Forces, with American support, have performed admirably. We believe the Iraqis’ success in liberating their own country presents them with an opportunity to commit to a reform agenda that stabilizes the country and creates enduring security. We should be ready to support Prime Minister Al-Abadi as he moves forward with a plan to reassure all Iraqis of their inclusion in a unified, federal Iraq. In order to provide this assurance, we should be prepared to assist Iraq in a program of decentralization, reconciliation, and security sector reform.
Iraqi leaders now have the opportunity to reject the divisive agenda that disenfranchised the Sunni community, antagonized Iraq’s Kurds, isolated Iraq’s minority communities, and alienated the many Shia Iraqis who desire a democratic, inclusive, and pluralistic vision for their country. These political grievances produced the fertile ground for ISIS’ rapid expansion and brutal assault on the Iraqi people, and aggravated fractures in Iraqi society that pushed the country into civil war. Pushing ISIS out of Iraq has united its people around a common cause. Now, that sense of unity must turn to rebuilding the country.
We urge you to continue working with Iraq’s leaders to preserve their country’s unity and ensure its stability. This requires a plan for decentralizing some functions of the government, disbanding Iranian-aligned militias, addressing the humanitarian needs of Iraq’s community, and committing to a program of reconciliation.
As Prime Minister Al-Abadi visits Washington, we stand ready to work with you on the following steps.
First, the Prime Minister’s visit is an opportunity to reengage with the American people about the continuing strategic importance of Iraq. The United States has an enduring national security interest in the development of an inclusive and stable Iraq that can secure its own citizens and territory. We therefore urge you to take the lead in building greater public support for our strategic objectives in Iraq.
Second, it is in our national security interest to continue supporting Iraq’s security forces so that they can partner with U.S. forces on counterterrorism. We support the train, equip, and advise mission that has enabled Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga forces, and Sunni tribal forces to push ISIS out of Iraq. Going forward, U.S. commitment to continuing this mission must be part of a comprehensive Iraqi strategy to manage and sustain support for local forces who will be at the front lines combatting future terrorist actions.
Third, Iraq’s long-term stability is dependent on the government’s commitment to civilian security. Iraq will remain vulnerable to the next ISIS if immediate steps are not taken to respond to the humanitarian crisis. Iraq’s leaders should continue to prioritize partnerships with the United Nations and other assistance providers to ensure that aid is reaching the most vulnerable. The Government must also commit significant energy and resources to stabilize and secure areas liberated from ISIS, and assist Iraq’s displaced communities in returning to their homes. If the Iraqi government cannot improve the lives of these communities, the threat from extremist groups will continue to challenge the country.
Finally, and most importantly, we urge you to continue working with Prime Minister Al-Abadi on governance and reconciliation efforts. Iraq’s challenges will not be solved when ISIS is defeated on the battlefield.The United States should be ready to support Al-Abadi and his government as it takes the steps necessary to implement a real post-ISIS governance plan. This plan must give Sunni Iraqis a greater share of national power and revenue, formulate a true reconciliation process across ethno-sectarian lines, include a pathway towards a sustainable and mutually supportive agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government, embrace greater federalism and regional autonomy as appropriate, and ensure that Iraqis who answered the call to defend their country can return home to economic opportunities. It should include a clear commitment that the elections scheduled for 2018 in Iraq will happen freely, fairly, and inclusively in all parts of the country, without outside interference.
If Prime Minister Al-Abadi commits to lead Iraq along these lines after ISIS’ defeat, he should have our full support in this endeavor.
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. Full video and audio of his statement is available here.
Senator Coons’ full opening statement, as delivered, is below:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Judge Gorsuch, and welcome to your family and friends. I want to congratulate you on your nomination and I look forward to the opportunity to ask you questions today.
I believe my constitutional duty to advise the president on this nomination to the Supreme Court is among my most important responsibilities as a senator.
This hearing is our opportunity to ask you, Judge Gorsuch, questions in front of the American people – to better understand how you interpret the text of our Constitution and how you apply Supreme Court precedent.
We will explore how your approach to interpreting our Constitution would impact our lives in the future.
I am committed to ensuring that the consideration of your nomination by this committee is thorough and fair. And I am hopeful that, as our hearing proceeds, it will promote an important dialogue about the Constitution and the courts. Based on our meeting, Judge Gorsuch, I know that you too hope that this moment can serve as a shared civic experience.
I am considering your nomination with an open mind and I would ask that you be forthcoming in your responses to our questions. I would like this hearing to be substantive and to reflect the best traditions of the Senate.
However, I cannot let this moment, commenting on the best traditions of the Senate, pass without expressing my deep regret that Chief Judge Merrick Garland was treated with profound and historic disrespect. The disrespect shown by Senate Republicans to Judge Merrick Garland, to President Obama, and to our institutions was unprecedented and deeply damaging.
For nearly 300 days, longer than any other nominee, Chief Judge Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court sat without action. My Republican colleagues didn’t afford him a hearing, and would not give him a vote.
I believe we have a responsibility to work to re-elevate our democratic institutions above these narrow, partisan politics. I will support a process worthy of its important purpose – to carefully evaluate a candidate for the highest court in the land.
The American people are entitled to see you answer probing, thorough, and challenging questions about your views on a wide range of constitutional issues, because the breadth of the issues that come before the Court cannot be overstated.
Just in the last year, the Supreme Court considered cases involving executive power, affirmative action, intellectual property, partisan gerrymandering, racial bias in the courtroom, and reproductive rights.
The seat you would fill, Judge Gorsuch, if elevated, was occupied by Justice Scalia and you’ve been compared to him. While it may seem at times to many that the Supreme Court is engaged in abstract intellectual exercises about originalism, or textualism, or living constitution, even a small subset of landmark decisions Justice Scalia took part in his 30 years on the Court demonstrates otherwise.
It’s because of Supreme Court decisions that gay men can no longer be criminally prosecuted for engaging in consensual relationships, that loving same-sex couples can get married in every state in our Union, that women cannot be denied attendance at one of our nation’s premier military academies, and that women are entitled to a full range of reproductive health care, that juveniles and intellectually disabled people can no longer be executed, and that millions of Americans who have attained health care under the ACA have been able to keep that care, at least for now. These cases impacted the lives of millions of real Americans and Justice Scalia applied his understanding of the Constitution and dissented in every one of them.
I would like to use these hearings to explore your interpretation of the Constitution. I believe that our Constitution, which I view as our nation’s secular scripture, includes guarantees of equality and privacy –hallmarks of our modern American society.
I believe in an independent judiciary that safeguards our rule of law from unlawful intrusions of the most powerful – even the president of the United States.
The legitimacy of our Supreme Court transcends the outcome of any one case. But that legitimacy rests on the unyielding responsibility of Justices to put their personal political views aside to decide cases on their merits.
Judge Gorsuch, your nomination has been championed by the ideologically driven Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation. Interests groups are already spending millions of dollars advocating for your confirmation, but as I’ve told you during our meetings, none of those facts will determine my vote on your nomination. I’m instead looking to you to demonstrate your ability to separate politics from constitutional interpretation.
As my colleague from Utah, Senator Hatch, once noted, “Judges that say what the law is, promote liberty. Judges say what they think the law should be, undermine liberty.”
I have spent a great deal of time reviewing your record. I appreciate that you’re an engaging and careful writer. I also have some serious questions based on your decisions.
What stands out to me is your tendency to go beyond the issues that need to be resolved in the case before you. I have seen a pattern in which you have filed dissents, dissents from denials of rehearing, concurrences, or even concurrences to your own majority opinions, to explore broader issues than what’s necessary, to revisit long-settled precedent, and to promote dramatic changes to the law.
This pattern concerns me because these additional writings hint at an unwillingness to settle on a limited conclusion and forge a narrow consensus with your colleagues.
I want to know that you would apply the Constitution and settled precedent to reach consensus and resolve narrowly the disputes before you. And I want to know that our treasured freedoms will be safe in your stewardship.
Our Constitution, as you know, is designed to protect our diversity of views. It guarantees to all of us the freedom of expression, the right to privacy, the liberty to make our most personal life decisions, equal protection, and the ability to worship freely.
Take the freedom of religion – enshrined in the First Amendment, which says in part “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
I believe we must balance our respect for the significance of faith and free exercise with concerns about impacts on other’s liberty.
As my colleagues know, I studied law and divinity in school. Some of the most formative and meaningful experiences of my life have been guided by my Christian faith. The command to care for the most vulnerable among us inspires my work as a Senator, and I value opportunities to share with my friends and colleagues in prayer.
Throughout our nation’s history, religion has inspired countless acts of charity, kindness, and good work. But when I think about the Founders’ wisdom to protect both church and state by ensuring their separation, I am in awe. Our United States were founded by people who came here for many reasons, seeking opportunity, freedom from oppression, and hoping in many cases to be free to practice their faith.
From Pilgrims to Mormons, from the Amish to Jehovah’s Witnesses, America from its founding has been home to many faiths from many parts of the world. Part of our Founder’s genius was to abandon the European practice of having a state religion, supported by state taxes.
Now today, across the U.S., Churches and Mosques, Synagogues and Temples, find their own way, recruit and raise up their own believers and funds free from state interference. The Supreme Court over decades has sought to strike and preserve a careful balance between the free exercise rights of religious minorities and the power of legislatures to compel compliance with neutral laws.
Recently, the Court has decided several landmark and controversial cases. The Hobby Lobby case, where the free exercise rights of a few were held to prevent the infringement on the personal liberty of many. And in another important line of cases in which substantive due process rights have been held to guarantee a right to privacy and self-determination, even when longstanding practices and religiously motivated statutes are challenged as a result.
Religious freedom must also be freedom to not have our values or practices pushed into the public square.
While other nations have been besieged by wars and persecution of religious minorities, inclusion and equality have been guiding lights in the success of our democracy.
However, at other times in our history, sincerely held religious beliefs have been invoked to deny millions of Americans’ full equality under the law. It has been invoked in defense of laws prohibiting interracial marriage, LGBT relationships, and reproductive rights.
We live today in tumultuous times, as you know. The Supreme Court is likely to hear many important cases in the years to come. It will be important that we understand your values and framework for interpreting the Constitution. On areas as important as executive power, national security, the independence of the judiciary, deference to agencies, and personal liberty.
There are disturbing developments that I see in our modern environment as affronts to religious freedom and personal liberty.
President Trump campaigned on putting in place a Muslim ban, and has signed unlawful, discriminatory executive orders to deliver on that promise.
The new administration’s Justice Department has withdrawn guidance supporting protections for transgender individuals.
And the Attorney General testified under oath at his confirmation hearing that secular attorneys may not have the same claim to understanding the truth as religious ones.
Our next Supreme Court Justice will play a pivotal role in sustaining and defending our rights in this critical time for our country in the years to come. America needs a Supreme Court Justice who will protect the Constitution, not one who will countenance faith or fear of some, as a justification for infringing the liberty of many.
It is against that backdrop, Judge, that I will be seeking to understand your commitment to the rule of law, the guarantees of the First Amendment, and individual liberty. I look forward to your testimony.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer today blatantly mischaracterized Senator Coons’ previous comments on Fox News Sunday about potential collusion between Russian officials and the Trump campaign. Spicer misleadingly quoted only a select portion of Senator Coons’ previous statements, in which Sen. Coons said “I have no evidence of collusion” between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. Senator Coons’ full quote, which Spicer failed to provide, is: “I have no hard evidence of collusion. I think what hard evidence there may be will be discovered either through a full release of President Trump’s financial interests and concerns and taxes, or the intercepts that I believe our intelligence community and FBI have of conversations between and among Russian officials, and that’s why I think it’s important for us to get to the bottom of this so that we’re not still talking about this as an unresolved issue where we don’t know the answer months from now.”
“I’m disappointed that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer today mischaracterized comments I made earlier this month in his attempt to defend President Trump against allegations of potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. For Mr. Spicer’s sake, let me be clear once again: Though I have not seen specific evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials, there is quite a bit of circumstantial evidence that suggests collusion may have occurred, including confirmation just this morning that the FBI is investigating potential collusion between the campaign and Russian officials.
“From the firings of Campaign Manager Paul Manafort and National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn over troubling ties to Russia to the President’s refusal to release his tax returns and his unfounded accusation that he was “wire tapped” by President Obama, President Trump and his team have refused every opportunity to allay concerns of inappropriate Russian ties. Indeed, they have fostered those concerns, knowingly or not.
“I have worked earnestly to ensure that Congress investigates these concerns in an honest, thorough, and most importantly, bipartisan way. That is how I will continue to approach this issue. I also believe strongly that the FBI and both the House and Senate Intelligence Committee investigations must have access to all evidence. The American people deserve to know the truth about whether or not senior members of the president’s campaign collaborated with Russian hacking of our 2016 election.
“Mr. Spicer would do well to quote me accurately and fully in the future.”
Below is a full transcript of Senator Coons’ interview, from Sunday March 5, which Spicer referenced:
Senator Coons on President Trump’s wiretap allegations: Well, these are remarkable allegations. I think another attempt by President Trump to change the subject. But this deserves full investigation. And the larger point I think I will agree with Senator Cotton on is that it’s in the best interest of our country for us to move forward promptly and get to the bottom of all of this. I believe that no president should ever directly order an intercept or a wiretap on an American citizen – that is not what our system provides. You have to go in front of a judge and get a warrant in order to conduct a wiretap. So one of two things has happened here: either President Trump has inappropriately released classified information and was himself the subject of a Court ordered wiretap, or, and I think this a very remote possibility, there was some inappropriate actions by the previous administration. In either case, it doesn’t help our country for this to all be worked out on Twitter. It ought to be worked out in a full, fair, prompt and thorough investigation whether by the Senate Intelligence Committee if they can get to the bottom of this or by a special prosecutor.
Senator Coons on whether these allegations might just be false: Yes that is right, of course. It’s quite possible it is just not true and the President offered no evidence or backing for his outlandish claims.
Senator Coons on his previous comments regarding possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians: What I was trying to make clear and I appreciate a chance to restate this is that I don’t have and I don’t know of any conclusive proof one way or the other about whether there was collusion between senior levels of the Trump campaign and Russian officials. But I believe that our intelligence community, which is the most sophisticated in the world, has intercepts, has raw intelligence and it’s important that the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is conducting an investigation be given access to those intercepts, to transcripts of those intercepts so that they can get to the bottom of this. The American people want us to move forward, they want us to work together in Washington, and it is important for us to remember that the Russians are our adversaries. Republicans and Democrats, we have different political agendas, different political views, but we can and should work together to make sure that what intelligence there is is gotten access to by the Intelligence Committee, and if they’re stonewalled or blocked, that there is a special prosecutor appointed. That’s the point I was trying to make.
Senator Coons on his previous statement on MSNBC: Well, to be clear, what I was trying to encourage is that the Intelligence Committee be given access to the raw intelligence. I’ve been told now that this is going to happen this coming week and I think that is positive and productive. Last week on the floor of the Senate, I joined Republican Senator Marco Rubio in a joint speech to talk about Russian interference, Russia as our adversary, and the importance of us working together. And at the end of the speech, Senator Rubio said ‘I won’t be part of a witch hunt and I won’t be part of a cover-up.’ So, to the extent those comments that you just replayed might in some way be misinterpreted as leading to a sort of hyperventilating attitude here in the Senate about this, I apologize for that. That’s not what I was trying to do. What I was trying to do and I think is important is to draw the American people to what joins us in common, which is the need for us to get to the bottom of this, to get access to what intelligence there is. I am confident that intelligence exists that is relevant to this question. Not that says ‘there is collusion and proof of it.’ That’s not what I was trying to say. But last week, there were senior Republicans and President Trump in previous saying there is nothing here, there is nothing to look at. And this was just after Senator Sessions was revealed to have either misspoken or misrepresented his meetings with the Russian ambassador. I think it is in all of our interest for this to be investigated fully, fairly and promptly and that what intelligence exists, I am confident that such intelligence exists, be made available to the Intelligence Committee.
Senator Coons on potential collusion between the ‘Trump world’ and Russians to interfere in the presidential campaign: I have no hard evidence of collusion. I think what hard evidence there may be will be discovered either through a full release of President Trump’s financial interests and concerns and taxes, or the intercepts that I believe our intelligence community and FBI have of conversations between an among Russian officials, and that’s why I think it’s important for us to get to the bottom of this so that we’re not still talking about this as an unresolved issue where we don’t know the answer months from now.
Senator Coons on how this ongoing investigation could impact the Trump administration: Well, to be clear, I’m not the person who forced or coerced in any way Senator Sessions to answer incorrectly or falsely in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee—-
Senator Coons on whether this investigation is purposefully trying to prohibit the Trump administration from being productive: That’s not my goal. I recently met with the new Commerce Secretary just on Thursday to sit down with him and say I’m on the relevant subcommittee that appropriates the Commerce Department’s funding, I’d like to work with you on manufacturing policy, I think we can do things to get back to focusing on growing our economy and growing manufacturing jobs. You know me and I think you’d recognize that I’m someone who is willing to work across the aisle. My goal here is to make sure we defend our democracy. It’s outrageous to suggest that we shouldn’t investigate thoroughly and fully what are credible allegations of Russian interference in our election.
Senator Coons on whether he believes that Senator Sessions lied to the Judiciary Committee: Well, Senator Sessions certainly misspoke when he said ‘I did not have communications with the Russians.’ And whether or not that is a willful misrepresentation, a lie, is something I think we should investigate. I think the Attorney General ought to come back to the Judiciary Committee and answer questions so we can clear the air and get to the bottom of this. That is the only way we can move forward with confidence in our system. I do think this is a distraction from governing, but it is an important distraction, one that deserves our attention in a measured and bipartisan way, because Russia did interfere with our election and why they interfered and what the consequences are is going to matter to the defense of our democracy going forward.
WILMINGTON, DE – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced a Senate resolution to recognize March 21 as “National Rosie the Riveter Day” to raise awareness of the 16 million women who worked during World War II.
“These brave women recognized their country needed them; they heard the call and they answered,” said Sen. Coons. “It’s my pleasure to help recognize the women who worked and volunteered from the home front during WWII to support the Armed Forces overseas. This bill will recognize and preserve the history and legacy of working women, including volunteer women, during World War II to promote cooperation and fellowship among those women and their descendants.”
Riveters left their homes to work or volunteer full-time in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories,
banks, and other institutions to support the war efforts. The women worked with the United Service Organizations and the American Red Cross, drove trucks, riveted airplane parts, collected critical materials, rolled bandages, and served on rationing boards.
Sen. Coons’ office will partner with the Delaware Historical Society to gather stories, photos and other memories from family members, or Delaware Rosies themselves in order to preserve their stories for future generations. Delawareans who would like to submit their photos or other items are encouraged to contact Leigh Rifenburg, Chief Curator of the Delaware Historical Society at 302-295-2386 or via email at lrifenburg@dehistory.org.
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined CNN’s New Day to discuss the recent block of President Trump’s travel ban by federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland, as well as the President’s budget proposal.
“I think President Trump is struggling to make the transition from campaigning to governing. And he’s beginning to learn that words matter. How he describes something is going to be taken into account by members of Congress when we look at his deep budget cuts, and by members of federal courts; now a federal court from Hawaii and one from Maryland as they review the intentions behind his actions,” said Senator Coons. “I think it’s striking that last night at a campaign-style rally in Nashville, President Trump said that this decision makes us weaker. I actually think it makes us stronger when the world sees that the most powerful man in our country, the President, can have his executive orders restrained by federal judges.”
“President Trump’s own Secretary of Defense, Secretary Mattis, when he was a general said that if you significantly cut funding for the State Department and foreign assistance, you’ll have to give the military more bullets, because it will simply make the world a more dangerous place,” said Senator Coons. “And to dramatically increase spending on defense and significantly cut spending on the diplomats and development professionals who often work hand in glove with our Defense Department in difficult and dangerous parts of the world like Iraq and Afghanistan is unwise. I think it shows an over-reliance on the military and an under-appreciation of the power and effectiveness of diplomacy.”
Senator Coons on recent block of President Trump’s travel ban by Maryland federal judge: “Well, I think President Trump is struggling to make the transition from campaigning to governing. And he’s beginning to learn that words matter. How he describes something is going to be taken into account by members of Congress when we look at his deep budget cuts, and by members of federal courts; now a federal court from Hawaii and one from Maryland as they review the intentions behind his actions. I think it’s striking that last night at a campaign-style rally in Nashville, President Trump said that this decision makes us weaker. I actually think it makes us stronger when the world sees that the most powerful man in our country, the President, can have his executive orders restrained by federal judges. None of us, I think, can predict exactly what higher courts will do with these judicial decisions by two district courts, but I think it’s important to remember that President Trump challenging sitting federal judges as being politically motivated doesn’t help his cause.”
Senator Coons on the intentions behind President Trump’s travel ban: “Well, that’s a good summary of the position of folks who support President Trump. I’ll tell you that as a sitting member of the Senate who has participated in hearings where we reviewed the vetting procedures for refugees, very very few refugees are coming into the United States from countries where we perceive there is a threat as you mentioned in the previous section. The Department of Homeland Security recently released a report that these seven countries, now six countries, that are part of the new Muslim ban by the Trump administration, refugees from those countries pose very little threat. There are no documented cases of refugees from those countries engaging in terrorist acts against the United States. So, part of these judicial barriers to proceeding with the ban, a part of these decisions, rests on not just words said by President Trump and his senior aides, but also the assessment of risk from these countries and the process by which these countries were chosen. I’d say in counter to your main point there that we’ve already got thorough vetting in place for the countries from which refugees might come to the United States, and the extreme vetting and anti-Muslim ban proposals that President Trump made such a big deal of in his campaign is now carrying over into how he is governing.”
Senator Coons on President Trump’s budget proposal: “Well, President Trump’s own Secretary of Defense, Secretary Mattis, when he was a general said that if you significantly cut funding for the State Department and foreign assistance, you’ll have to give the military more bullets, because it will simply make the world a more dangerous place. And to dramatically increase spending on defense and significantly cut spending on the diplomats and development professionals who often work hand in glove with our Defense Department in difficult and dangerous parts of the world like Iraq and Afghanistan is unwise. I think it shows an over-reliance on the military and an under-appreciation of the power and effectiveness of diplomacy. I’m also really concerned about deep cuts to the Department of Agriculture, the Department of EPA, programs that help make sure that our water is clean and our air is clear, things that protect the health of average American families all over the country.”
Senator Coons on the lack of cuts to entitlements in the budget proposal: “Well, it is striking. That is a real departure from Republican orthodoxy, but you do see moving it’s way through the House an ACA repeal and replace plan from Speaker Ryan that does include significant cuts to Medicaid. So, there may be entitlement cuts coming from the Republican leadership in the House to match up with these significant spending cuts on domestic priorities and programs.”
Senator Coons on President Trump’s wiretapping accusations and what may come out in Comey’s letter: “Of course there’s a chance, but I just want to compliment Republican leaders on the Judiciary Committee, both Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Chuck Grassley, President Trump made this unfounded dramatic charge against his predecessor, President Obama, that he was wiretapped during the campaign in a 6AM tweet a number of weeks ago right after Attorney General Sessions was revealed to have testified untruthfully to the Judiciary Committee and he’d been compelled to recuse himself from an ongoing investigation. I personally think that President Trump was trying to change the subject. And now several senior Republicans in the House and the Senate have said, there’s nothing to these allegations. But, the President challenged the Congress to step up and investigate this, and so that’s what we’re doing on a bipartisan basis. And the insistence, the rigor and persistence with which both Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Intelligence Committee have pursued this I think is important, because it means we’re going to get to the bottom of it. It is possible that there’s something neither President Trump nor the relevant agencies have produced so far, but I think we need to get to the bottom of this so we can move forward. Same thing with the allegations of Russian interference in the campaign through collusion with the Trump campaign. We need to get to the bottom of this. There’s a lot of smoke, but there’s no clear evidence yet of any fire and I think we need to resolve these issues so we can move forward. It’s just one more example of President Trump learning that words matter, that you shouldn’t throw out dramatic accusations in an early morning tweet without backing it up.”