[VIDEO] Senator Coons on Muslim ban: “I see it as illegal, unconstitutional and un-American”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined CNN’s New Day to talk about President Trump’s immigration ban targeting seven Muslim majority countries.

Full video and audio available here: http://bit.ly/2kG9zUb

Excerpts from the interview:

“I see it as illegal, unconstitutional and un-American. I don’t think this ban will make us any safer. I frankly think it will be a propaganda bonanza for ISIS. It has outraged a number of our close allies on whom we are relying to be our partners on the war on terror, and it has sent the wrong message to our allies around the world about what we stand for as a country. Some of the first people caught up in the misguided ban just over the last 48 hours were Iraqi translators who risked their lives for American troops in the war in Iraq, and I think the symbol that sends is a strong one and I look forward to joining others who will be protesting this ban and challenging it both with statutory actions and legal actions.”

“…President Trump went on the Christian Broadcasting Network and spread some alternative facts about the numbers. We welcomed nearly as many Christian refugees as Muslim refugees last year. And this ban, although many say it is not a Muslim ban, is targeting only majority Muslim countries and has a specific carve out for religious minorities. I don’t think it’s good policy when we start picking specific religions and specific nationalities for us to welcome or admit. That harkens back to the dark days of our immigration policy as a country eight decades ago when we blocked Jewish refugees from coming here during the Holocaust.”

“If the stated goal of the executive order, what it says on its face, is that it is designed to protect us from the threat of infiltration of those who might do us harm, the three countries from which people have come who committed the 911 attacks and other attacks are pointedly excluded from this list, and it is unclear why they were excluded from this list. And it suggests that’s not really what is going on with this, I believe, Muslim ban.”

Sen. Coons’ statement on yesterday’s executive order

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in response to the executive order signed by President Trump yesterday:

“Nearly eighty years ago, in one of our country’s most shameful chapters, the United States refused entry to Jewish refugees fleeing the horrors of the Holocaust. Many of those denied refuge in the U.S. returned to Europe and were murdered by the Nazi regime. Today, Americans awoke to reports that refugees, many fleeing violence and persecution at home, have been detained at U.S. airports and are unable to enter the United States, even after years of waiting and thorough vetting. That the executive order by which we are denying them refuge was signed by President Trump on International Holocaust Remembrance Day displays a willful indifference to human suffering and to our own country’s history.

“I understand the real fears that Americans have about bad actors seeking to take advantage of our compassion, but we cannot allow fears of terrorism to undermine the values that have made us an example for the rest of the world. The United States has in place thorough and detailed protocols to vet refugees seeking asylum. Instead of protecting us from terrorist attacks, the discriminatory standards for refugee admissions signed yesterday will more likely serve to fuel terrorist recruitment, further alienate Muslims in America, and force our allies in Europe to bear an even greater burden of refugee resettlement.

“We are a nation of immigrants that has tried to lead by example. But today the world is seeing an America that is returning to a politics of exclusion based on religion or nationality. I’m angered and saddened by President Trump’s decision to sign an executive order that seems intended to make a point, not to make us safe. The executive orders by this president that exceed his authority can and should be challenged, as were the executive orders of previous presidents of both parties.”

Sens. Coons, Brown introduce bill to boost free tax preparation and filing services for low-income individuals, families

WILMINGTON (Del.) – With tax season underway, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Oh.) this week introduced legislation that would support free tax preparation sites that help individuals and families file their income tax returns. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Act would make permanent an Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-administered grant program for volunteer tax preparation sites nationwide, including in Delaware.

“I am proud to work with my colleague Senator Sherrod Brown to codify and expand funding for the VITA program, an IRS taxpayer assistance program that provides valuable services to low-income families in both of our states,” said Coons. “Besides finally authorizing VITA, our legislation will boost the program by helping steer more AmeriCorps members to tax preparation sites around the country. As someone who launched and ran a number of AmeriCorps programs, I hope that mobilizing more dedicated public servants to this cause will help families around the country take advantage of critical tax breaks for the low-income, like the Earned Income Tax Credit.”

“It should be easy for working Americans to file and claim their hard-earned money,” said Brown. “Volunteer tax preparers provide critical assistance to those who need a hand filing so they can make sure they are receiving all the tax credits they are eligible for and getting the return they’ve earned. They also save taxpayers money by cutting down on administrative costs.”

Specifically, the bill codifies and doubles funding for the IRS’s critical VITA program, which provides grants to non-profits around the country that are dedicated to providing free tax preparation services to low-income individuals and families. Additionally, the bill creates a National Center to coordinate and improve the network of more than 6,200 VITA sites around the country. Finally, the bill boosts the VITA network by helping steer more AmeriCorps and other national service positions to VITA sites around the country.

Non-profits that participate in VITA offer free tax preparation for individuals with incomes less than $35,000 a year and families with incomes less than $54,000. VITA volunteers are trained to advise taxpayers on how to take advantage of tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and state or local tax credits that families in need may not know about.

In Delaware, there are three organizations that participate in VITA: the Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation, the First State Community Action Agency, and the Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement (DACA). Together these three organizations run close to 20 taxpayer assistance sites across Delaware, using space offered by local libraries, educational institutions, and other public buildings. In 2015 more than 200 volunteers filed more than 15,000 returns and collected over $25 million in returns for participants.

“Grants to Nehemiah from the IRS’s VITA program have expanded our capacity to provide valuable free tax preparation services to Delawareans across the state,” said Maisha Thoms, Tax Campaign Director at Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation. “The additional funding from VITA has allowed us to work with First State Community Action Agency to run the Delaware Tax and Financial Services Campaign, an initiative to increase financial literacy and financial empowerment among Delawareans during tax season and beyond. Senator Coons knows how much the VITA grant means to us and we appreciate his efforts to expand the program.“

“The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a proven work incentive and valuable tax benefit for lifting low-income individuals and families out of poverty. For so many working individuals and families, it is a much needed economic boost and aid to paying off debt, improving personal credit, savings and financial planning. Everyone eligible for EITC needs to know that they have a right to claim it,” said Bernice Edwards, Executive Director of First State Community Action Agency. “We thank Senator Coons for fighting to expand and improve the VITA program so that our organization can help more Delawareans claim the tax benefits, like the EITC, that can have such a positive impact on their lives.”

“The IRS VITA expansion that Senator Coons is fighting for would help organizations like DACA educate low income working families about free taxpayer assistance programs before tax filing season,” said Darlene Battle, Executive Director of the Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement. “This will help guarantee a decrease in the percentage of families who missed our services during prior years.”

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL-7) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation is supported by the Corporation for Enterprise Development and the United Way.

“For 45 years, VITA sites have turned limited resources into big results in their local communities,” said Andrea Levere, President of Corporation for Enterprise Development, the national non-profit that leads the Taxpayer Opportunity Network. “The number of VITA-prepared returns has increased 300% over the last decade, even while VITA sites maintained a 94% accuracy rate — the highest rate of any type of preparer. This shows that the need for Congressional authorization of this grant program has never been greater. We applaud Senator Brown, Senator Coons, and Congressman Danny Davis for leading the effort to make permanent and boost the VITA program.”

Senator Coons is the Ranking Member on the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Appropriations, which makes him the top Democrat overseeing funding for taxpayer assistance programs run out of the IRS. As a strong advocate for policies to promote financial literacy and help families take advantage of critical tax breaks, Senator Coons has fought for increased funding for VITA and other taxpayer assistance programs. Further details on free tax preparation programs in the state can be found on his website here.

Sen. Coons: “Building a physical wall spanning the entire southern border is nothing more than an expensive symbol of fear, insecurity, and xenophobia”

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the executive orders signed by President Trump on Wednesday:

“I recognize that improvements in border security and immigration enforcement are in our country’s interest. That’s why in 2013 I voted for a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would have invested $44.5 billion in security and enforcement through a series of targeted, effective actions — a bipartisan effort that passed the Senate but never got a vote in the House. Building a physical wall spanning the entire southern border is nothing more than an expensive symbol of fear, insecurity, and xenophobia that comes at the expense of thoughtful immigration policy and border security — not to mention common sense. Targeting sanctuary cities and localities harms trust between law enforcement and the communities they protect, takes funding from state and local law enforcement, and limits officers’ ability to determine how best to keep their communities safe. We’re better than this.”

Sen. Coons’ memo to Pres. Trump in The American Interest: America must “act promptly and decisively to reassert our role in Africa”

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees, today published in The American Interest a long-form memorandum to President Trump and his administration that highlights the importance of the United States’ relationship with Africa. The piece makes clear why U.S. engagement with the continent has long received bipartisan support and outlines a series of policy suggestions for strengthening our important relationships in this fast-growing part of the world.

The introduction of Senator Coons’ memorandum is below. Click here to read the full piece in The American Interest.

U.S.-Africa Policy: Recommendations for President Trump

An open memorandum to President Trump on retaining the U.S. leadership role in Africa and remaining competitive with China.

Mr. President, since taking office you have already confronted a series of demanding domestic and international policy challenges. In a piece I published in Democracy: A Journal of Ideas the month after your election, I outlined five foreign policy areas on which I hope Democrats and Republicans in Congress will be able to work constructively with your Administration.

In this memorandum, I wish to call your attention to a region of the world that rarely receives sufficient focus from Presidents of either party: sub-Saharan Africa. When past Presidents have focused U.S. efforts on building partnerships with the African continent, they have often found that members of Congress of both parties are eager to engage and to support new initiatives.

The next four years of our engagement with sub-Saharan Africa will be critical for African stability and prosperity, U.S. leadership in the region, and the strength of our business opportunities across the continent. If we take decisive action on the continent, this can be an African century—with direct, tangible benefits for our own economic growth and national security.

But if we fail to act, not only do we forego significant opportunities for business and humanitarian partnerships, but entire regions of Africa could also descend into violence and conflict, threatening global stability and providing a fertile environment for extremism to take root and grow. I urge you and your Administration to build on years of bipartisan collaboration with a part of the world that is increasingly vital to American security and prosperity.

Make no mistake: When it comes to economic and strategic influence in the fastest-growing part of the world, we are in direct competition with China. But Beijing plays by a different set of rules. In its engagement with sub-Saharan Africa, China, rather than prioritizing democratic norms or good governance, takes a mercantilist approach, involving itself in African affairs with no strings attached. Human rights, press freedom, and the value of legitimate, democratic governance are of little to no concern to Chinese policymakers. Instead, China mobilizes its vast state financial resources to invest broadly in infrastructure projects across Africa in exchange for the ability to extract natural resources.

In 2009, China eclipsed the United States as the continent’s largest trading partner. At $222 billion in 2014, Africa’s trade with China is now three times greater than the continent’s trade with the United States. While 2008 was the only year in the past decade where Chinese foreign direct investment flows to Africa exceeded those of the United States, the current trajectory indicates that Chinese investment will surpass that of the United States in the coming years as China continues to increase its financing commitments on the continent.

If the United States wants to remain competitive with countries like China—and do so in a way that promotes democracy, accountability, and the rule of law—we need to act promptly and decisively to reassert our role in Africa. That means placing a greater priority on conditional U.S. investment and more effective U.S. foreign assistance. In this memorandum, I explain why Africa matters to the United States and offer a number of ideas for increasing our focus on this important but often overlooked part of the world.

Click here to read the full piece in The American Interest.

Senator Coons announces Class of 2021 U.S. Service Academy nominations

DOVER, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons today announced his U.S. Service Academy nominations for the Class of 2021. Three students have earned the Senator’s principal nomination and will be offered academy appointments should they meet all medical, physical and academic requirements. Senator Coons has also submitted the names of 23 additional outstanding young Delawareans for consideration. Senator Coons also nominated 10 individuals to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

“Nominating these gifted young men and women to the U.S. Service Academies is a sincere honor and a responsibility that I take very seriously,” Senator Coons said. “The next few years will be challenging – academically, mentally and physically – but I am confident in their ability to rise to the challenge and to come through this experience well-equipped to join the ranks of America’s finest military officers.”

Principal Nominees:

United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland

Principal Nominee: Jacob Hudson of Wilmington, Delaware Military Academy

United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Principal Nominee: David Collord of Milton, Cape Henlopen High School

United States Military Academy at West Point, West Point, New York

Principal Nominee: Meghan Yerkes of Smyrna, Smyrna High School

Alternate Nominees:

Lindsey Asbury of Smyrna, Smyrna High School
Reid Carey of Dagsboro, Worcester Prep School
Justin Desrosiers of Townsend, Middletown High School
Alexis Ferguson of Middletown, Middletown High School
Tajaii Furrowh of Wilmington, Delaware Military Academy
Abigayle Gant of Wilmington, St. Elizabeth’s High School
David Hazelton of Wilmington, St. Elizabeth’s High School
Nicholas Jones of Magnolia, Polytech High School
Justin Koo of Newark, University of Delaware
Katherine Long of Hockessin, Charter School of Wilmington
George Martin of Frankford, Indian River High School
Alexis McCullough of Wyoming, Caesar Rodney High School
Elana Montejo of Smyrna, Smyrna High School
Cody Outten of Harrington, Lake Forest High School
Savannah Pankow of Wilmington, Tatnall School
Sammantha Ponsell of Felton, Caesar Rodney High School
Kyle Potter of Camden, Dover High School
Adam Reynolds of Wilmington, Tower Hill
Magnus Wamble of Bear, Caravel Academy
Lance White of Lewes, Northwestern Prep
Matthew Wilkinson of Wilmington, Tower Hill
Chase Wunder of Newark, Tome School
Jacob Wyngaard of Middletown, Appoquinimink High School

United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point:

Reid Carey of Dagsboro, Worcester Prep
David Hiott of Wilmington, Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Isaac Jennings of Townsend, University of Delaware
Brendan Kane of Lewes, Cape Henlopen High School
Brendan Lamey of Middletown, Sanford High School
Aiden O’Sullivan of Wilmington, New Mexico Military Institute
Samuel Parsons of Millsboro, Delaware Tech
Robert VanPelt of Georgetown, Sussex Tech
Magnus Wamble of Bear, Caravel Academy
Chase Wunder of Newark, Tome School

Senator Coons’ Service Academy Selection Board interviewed each applicant and made recommendations to the Senator. The Board, appointed by the Senator, is comprised of: Karen Berry, Ron Frazier, Heath Gehrke, Larry Henigan, Scott Kessel, Wanda Lopez, Fran Mahon and Tim Morris.

“I am deeply grateful to the members of my Service Academy Selection Board for volunteering their time to interview the talented Delawareans who wanted to serve their country,” Senator Coons said. “Their counsel was invaluable, and I appreciate their service.”

For additional information regarding service academy nominations, visit coons-staging.creativengine.com/learn/academies.

Coons, Gardner Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create Select Committee on Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON – Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) introduced legislation to establish a Senate Select Committee on Cybersecurity to consolidate jurisdiction over cybersecurity and cyberspace issues. Currently, multiple Senate Committees have jurisdiction over cybersecurity. During the 114^th Congress, at least 20 standing committees between the House of Representatives and the Senate held hearings related to cybersecurity.

The purpose of the narrowly-focused committee is to oversee and strengthen U.S. data breach prevention strategy and cyber activities. Among its responsibilities similar to a standing committee, the Select Committee on Cybersecurity would be authorized to investigate issues within its jurisdiction, make recommendations, and report legislation.

The committee would be composed of 21 members, including the chair and ranking members of the Appropriations Committee; Armed Services Committee; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; Foreign Relations Committee; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Select Committee on Intelligence; and Judiciary Committee. Additionally, Senate leadership will appoint five members from the Senate at large.

The Senators recently authored an oped on TIME.com about this legislation: http://ti.me/2jZxAo7

“In the Internet age, Americans’ fundamental freedoms depend more than ever on robust cybersecurity, which is vital to ensure the free flow of information, the protection of intellectual property, the privacy of our citizens, and the sanctity of our democratic process,” said Senator Coons. “Russia’s direct attack on the U.S. election, the 2015 Chinese hack into the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), multiple intrusions into unclassified government networks, and efforts to compromise U.S. financial and industrial control systems all indicate that gaps exist in United States cyber defenses – and that Congress maintains a 20^th century framework to respond quickly and effectively to these 21^st century challenges. The consequences of such attacks will only grow in years to come. By establishing the permanent Senate Select Committee on Cybersecurity, this bill will give Congress the tools to comprehensively investigate and respond to cyber intrusions, take proactive steps to protect against and respond to future attacks, and hold the executive branch accountable for its actions. A challenge as complex as cybersecurity demands congressional responsibilities and authorities be as clear, direct, and nonpartisan as possible. This bill represents a significant step in that direction.”

“Cybersecurity policy is one of the most complex and significant challenges facing Congress, yet the Senate’s structure to investigate and address cyber issues is diffuse and inadequate. This has led to an uncoordinated policy response to recent cyber attacks on government agencies, businesses, and infrastructure,” said Senator Gardner. “The scope of the cyber threat is as varied as the actors who are responsible for them and the consequences of potential attacks. Therefore, as cyber risks threats evolve so must U.S. cybersecurity policy. The establishment of a Select Committee on Cybersecurity is essential to investigating emerging cyber risks and bolstering our defenses against them through legislative solutions, and I’m hopeful that my colleagues recognize that a centralized structure is the best path forward to effectively tackle the cyber challenge.”

The text of the bill can be found here.

VIDEO: Senator Coons: “It’s not an alternative fact, it is a baseless lie.”

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHuteWLcOtU

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Wolf Blitzer on CNN to discuss continued insistence from the Trump Administration, including White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, that millions of illegal votes were tallied in the Presidential election.

“Once again, we see the President focused on size – on the size of crowd that turned out at his inauguration versus President Obama’s inauguration, the size of the popular vote and whether or not Hillary Clinton won the popular vote or he did, and he and his representatives Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway have presented the suggestion that millions of people voted illegally as an ‘alternative fact,’ said Senator Coons. “It’s not an alternative fact, it is a baseless lie.”

VIDEO: Senator Coons: “Not just no…no way” on DeVos, Pruitt nominations

Video available here: http://bit.ly/2jxkH55

“I think you’re going to see very strong pushback by Democrats in the Senate on some of [President Trump’s] extreme nominees,” said Senator Coons. “Scott Pruitt to run the EPA in particular is someone who not only would have approved these pipelines, but would have made major changes to the laws that protect clean air and clean water. Betsy DeVos, who is the nominee to be Secretary of Education, has had withering criticism and opposition here in the Senate. She’s someone where many of us are going to vote not just no, but no way.”

Senator Coons’ statement opposing Gov. Nikki Haley’s nomination for U.N. Ambassador

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued this statement following his vote in opposition to South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations:

“While I respect Governor Haley’s work as Governor of South Carolina, she did not convince me that she understands and embraces the foreign policy principles that the United States has championed over the past seventy years to serve effectively as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The position of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations requires a high level of expertise on international affairs, not someone who will be learning on the job. Should Governor Haley be confirmed by the full Senate, I look forward to working with her to make the U.N. more effective in advancing American interests and values.”

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