[VIDEO] Senator Coons to State Dept official: We cannot be “penny wise and pound foolish” on funding nuclear watchdog to inspect and monitor Iran’s nuclear program

WASHINGTON – Today during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) questioned U.S. State Department Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon about funding for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA is responsible for monitoring Iran’s nuclear program under the terms of the agreement reached last summer by the United States, five other global powers, and Iran.

View video of Senator Coons and Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon here: http://bit.ly/1UTvPZZ

Read a transcript of the conversation between State Department Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon and Senator Coons below:

Senator Coons: Ambassador Shannon, thank you for your testimony here today. Broadly speaking I continue to be glad that Iran has taken critical steps to restrain its nuclear weapons program as mandated by the JCPOA to limit its ability to quickly develop a nuclear weapon and I applaud the Administration for sanctioning for both individuals and entities involved in cyber-attacks against the United States in 2011 and 2013.

I’m pleased that you’ve worked closely with our international partners over three recent incidents to interdict Iranian weapon shipments bound for the Houthi Rebels in Yemen in the Arabian Sea, and I urge continued thoroughness and vigor in the enforcement of all the different mechanisms we have for preventing the Iranians from continuing to project power in the region.

But I remain deeply concerned that Iran continues to expand its influence in the Middle East and increase support for its terrorist proxies. Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests, which I know have been discussed at length at this hearing today, contradict its commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and I think demonstrate that the nuclear deal will not change Iran’s behavior at least in the short run and Iran remains unready to meet the obligations required of a responsible member of the international community.

I remain disturbed Iran continues to flagrantly violate the human rights of the Iranian people and has increased the pace of arrests and executions of political prisoners. I believe that if we fail to hold Iran accountable for these actions and fail to respond to violations of the JCPOA, even minor violations, that the viability of the nuclear agreement will be in jeopardy.

So while I commend the Administration for its recent actions, I encourage that they continue and I encourage that you enhance the implementation of the nuclear accord while we continue to work together in a bipartisan basis to be vigorous in pressing back on their ballistic missile tests, their support for terrorism and their proxies, and their human rights violations.

Let me start if I could with a question about IAEA funding. A February 2016 GAO report says that IAEA officials have expressed concerns about the reliability of the sustained extra budgetary contributions for JCPOA enforcement activities due to possible donor fatigue over the long run and in a visit that I made to Vienna to meet with IAEA leadership earlier this year, reinforced those concerns. Does the State Department agree that these are significant concerns and that a failure of the IAEA to have appropriate personnel deployed to take advantage of the search and inspections made possible under the JCPOA matters deeply? And do you believe the U.S. should make a significant proactive and long-term investment to meet the IAEA’s requirements to demonstrate we’re fully committed to enforcing the JCPOA over the long term?

Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon: The short answer is yes. The longer answer is first of all we’re grateful for the GAO report. We have it in draft, and we’re commenting on it. We believe that the IAEA has the resources it needs in the short term through the end of the year to address its responsibilities in terms of compliance verification, but we are continuing to look for ways with our partners to enhance the resources, especially the funding, that the IAEA has at its disposal.

What we are asking the IAEA to do is quite remarkable. It’s an important organization to begin with in terms of non-proliferation and in terms of nuclear security and safety, but we are asking it to take on a role in Iran so intrusive and so interventionist that it will be groundbreaking for it in many ways. Much of it it can do technologically, but much of it is also going to require inspectors on the ground and this is going to require special funding and special training, but we are working with our partners to ensure that the resources are available. We will have a conversation with this Congress to discuss in broader detail where we think additional help would be important.

Senator Coons: Thank you Ambassador. My strong impression is that the IAEA is a thorough, cautious, professional organization, and so they are simply being responsible in not leaping forward to invest in a whole new generation of inspectors, but that’s not what this moment calls for. One of the real positive features of the JCPOA is the opportunity for searching intrusive inspections as you referenced, and nuclear inspectors take a while to train and to deploy and I don’t think we should be penny wise and pound foolish in this area and fail to enthusiastically take advantage of this window and provide robust support to the IAEA.

One other question, earlier this month the UN issued a report showing the number of people executed by the Iranian government skyrocketed to nearly a thousand in 2015, twice as many as in 2010, ten times as many as in 2005. In your testimony you highlight CISADA the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act as a tool to potentially draw attention to and punish Iranian human rights violations; do you believe the CISADA authorities should be expanded in any way in light of Iran’s ongoing human rights abuses?

Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon: First of all, one of our biggest at the beginning of my testimony I noted of the three areas that concern us, one is human rights and because of the situation we see right now and what it means for Iran politically and what it means for Iran going into the future.

When it comes to sanctioning Iranian people and entities for human rights abuses, again we believe we have the authorities, and I realize this an unsatisfactory answer for this committee, but we are happy to engage in a conversation with this committee and with the Senate about what more we can and should be doing to address these issues as we would be in other areas of sanctions as I noted.

Senator Coons: Well I see my time has expired let me just make two comments if I might in closing. I had the chance yesterday to meet with Vitaly Churkin who is Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, and he made it clear Russia will block UN Security Council action in response to Iran’s recent multiple ballistic missile tests and I think it’s incumbent on us to work closely together on the legislative branch to ensure that we take greater action to strengthen our unilateral sanctions against Iran’s ballistic missile program.

I’m very concerned about the ongoing debate in this committee and across other committees about the possibility of wider access to the U.S. dollar and U.S. dollar facilities for Iran. I am determined that we make sure that Iran and its efforts to expand its reach in the Middle East and to support terrorism and to finance terrorism is contained appropriately.

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Senate unanimously passes Hatch-Coons bill to protect U.S. businesses from trade theft

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate unanimously passed the Defend Trade Secrets Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to help combat the loss of hundreds of billions of dollars each year in the United States to the theft of corporate trade secrets. Trade secrets—such as customer lists, formulas, and manufacturing processes—are an essential form of intellectual property, but they are the only form of U.S. intellectual property that businesses cannot take federal legal action to protect in the event of misuse or theft.  Currently, trade secret owners must rely on state courts or federal prosecutors to protect their rights.

The bill is expected to pass the House of Representatives and receive the President’s signature in the coming weeks. 

“Passage of this legislation is not only a critical victory for the intellectual property and business communities, but also an example of what Congress can accomplish when we put party politics aside and focus on areas of agreement,” Senator Hatch said. “Throughout my Senate service I have always sought, whenever possible, to seek common ground in order to advance public policy priorities that will benefit the American people and the American economy. With this bill, we have done just that.” 

“For too long, businesses in Delaware and across the country that drive our country’s innovation and economic growth have been losing jobs and revenue because their trade secrets are open to theft,” said Senator Coons. “I’m thrilled the Senate came together in a bipartisan way to pass our bill that will finally give trade secrets the same legal protections that other forms of critical intellectual property enjoy.  It’s a long overdue update that will empower American companies to protect their jobs in the 21st century. I urge the House to pass this bill now so the President can sign it into law as soon as possible.” 

“As an innovator, DuPont depends on intellectual property protection—including trade secrets,” said Karen Cochran, Associate General Counsel and Chief IP Counsel, DuPont, in testimony to the committee. “Realizing the full potential of our innovation often includes knowledge-building that can span decades. This work generates a range of intellectual property from patents to trade secrets. DuPont recently defended the trade secrets for one of our well-known products, Kevlar®. This experience reinforces the importance of S. 1890 and updating trade secret protection and remedies.”

“Adesis is grateful to Senator Coons for his work on the trade secrets legislation,” said Andrew Cottone, President of Chemistry for Adesis. “Twelve years ago we were the victims of such theft.  We witnessed firsthand the job loss, financial loss and technical destruction these actions can have on large and small American companies alike.  Adesis is hopeful that with the help of Senators Coons and this legislation, no other companies will have to relive our experiences.”

Background 

In today’s electronic age, trade secrets can be stolen with a few keystrokes, and increasingly, they are stolen at the direction of a foreign government or for the benefit of a foreign competitor. These losses put U.S. jobs at risk and threaten incentives for continued investment in research and development.

Current federal criminal law is insufficient. Although the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 made trade secret theft a crime, the Department of Justice lacks the resources to prosecute many such cases. State-level civil trade secret laws alone have not been sufficient to stop interstate theft. Federal courts are better suited to working across state and national boundaries to facilitate discovery, serve defendants or witnesses, or prevent a party from leaving the country. Laws also vary state-to-state, making it difficult for U.S. companies to craft consistent policies. 

The Defend Trade Secrets Act: 

• Creates a uniform federal standard for trade secret misappropriation. A company can craft one set of nondisclosure policies secure in the knowledge that its trade secrets will be protected by federal law.
• Provides for injunctions and damages, including a narrow, but powerful, ex parte seizure authority when it is needed to prevent the disclosure or further dissemination of a stolen trade secret. The bill also authorizes appropriate final monetary and injunctive relief to account for the economic harm to American companies whose trade secrets are stolen, while also safeguarding the freedom of employees to move from one job to another.
•  Is consistent with the remedies provided for other forms of intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks and copyrights, which are all covered by federal civil law. 

The bill is supported by ACTI, Adesis, Adobe, AdvaMed, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, AIPLA, the Association of Global Automakers, Inc., Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), The Boeing Company, Boston Scientific, BSA | The Software Alliance (BSA), Caterpillar Inc., Corning Incorporated, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Eli Lilly and Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Fiber to the Home Council Americas, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, Honda, IBM, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Information Technology Industry Council (ITI),  The Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), International Fragrance Association, North America, Internet Commerce Coalition (ICC), Johnson & Johnson, Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA), Medtronic, Michelin, Micron, Microsoft, Monsanto, National Alliance for Jobs and Innovation (NAJI), National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), National Foreign Trade Council, New England Council, NIKE, Pfizer, Philips Light, The Procter & Gamble Company, Royal Philips, SAS, Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), Siemens Corporation, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Texas Association of Business, Texas Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and United Technologies Corporation.

Coons, Hatch oped in Politico: “A better way to protect trade secrets”

WASHINGTON – Ahead of tonight’s Senate vote on the Defend Trade Secrets Act, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, authored an oped in today’s edition of Politico urging Congress to pass the Defend Trade Secrets Act to help combat the loss of hundreds of billions of dollars each year in the United States to the theft of corporate trade secrets. The legislation is expected to pass the Senate tonight. With strong support in the House of Representatives, the bill could be signed into law by the President in the coming weeks. 

Senator Coons also joined CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning to talk about the importance of the Defend Trade Secrets Act: http://bit.ly/1PQvpuO

Politico: A better way to protect trade secrets

The current patchwork of state laws puts our country at risk. Here’s how to fix it.

By Orrin Hatch and Chris Coons

Trade secrets are the lifeblood of the American economy. Virtually all companies depend on trade secrets to protect their most valuable information and processes. The medical device industry, for example, dedicates enormous resources to the research and development of life-saving products; much of that investment is shielded as trade secrets. Businesses that provide IT infrastructure and data storage—the backbone of the innovation economy—get their competitive edge from proprietary designs and software principally defended by trade secret law. In today’s knowledge- and service-based economy, trade secrets are indispensable to protecting confidential, intangible assets. According to some estimates, trade secrets are worth $5 trillion to the U.S. economy, on par with patents. The loss from their misappropriation is substantial—between $160 billion and $480 billion annually.

Unlike other forms of intellectual property, however, trade secrets lack a specific civil remedy under federal law. That is why for the past two years, we have worked hard to draft and build support for the Defend Trade Secrets Act—a bill that will enable U.S. businesses to protect their trade secrets under federal civil law. Thankfully, our persistence has paid off. Tonight, the Senate will vote on this important bill. With 65 co-sponsors from both parties, the legislation is expected to pass with overwhelming support. Our colleagues, Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), have worked on this bill tirelessly as well, and now have more than 120 cosponsors, so it is our hope that the House will follow suit shortly, and the president has indicated a willingness to sign the bill into law.

But despite strong bipartisan support, a few naysayers maintain that state law is sufficient for victims of trade secret theft. We could not disagree more. Maintaining the status quo is woefully insufficient to safeguard against misappropriation in today’s fast-paced innovation economy. Here’s why:

Currently, the only federal vehicle for trade secret protection is the Economic Espionage Act, which makes trade secret theft by foreign nationals a criminal offense. But this remedy criminalizes only a small subset of trade secret misappropriation and relies on the thinly stretched resources of the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute such offenses. As one might expect, federal prosecutors can only bring a relatively small number of cases each year.

The current patchwork of state laws is also insufficient. That was the rationale behind creating the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, which sought to achieve nationwide uniformity in trade secret law. But over time, most states have adopted their own trade secret laws. In fact, state laws today are perhaps even more variable in their treatment of trade secrets than they were at the time the Uniform Trade Secrets Act was proposed in 1979. These differing legal regimes force victims of trade secret theft to wade through a quagmire of time-consuming procedural hurdles in seeking to recover their losses. 

For example, if an attorney needs testimony from a witness in another state to support a state-court action for protection of trade secrets, she must first apply to her local court asking that it request the other state to issue its own subpoena for the document and deposition. This process can take weeks, which is an eternity in a trade secret case. Under a uniform federal standard, the process would be far more efficient. That’s because all federal courts apply the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, allowing attorneys to obtain documents and testimony from a witness in another state without having to apply to that state’s court system. Essentially, enabling businesses to protect their trade secrets in federal court removes an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and buys companies valuable time.

Streamlining access to remedies is critical in trade secrets cases, where an expedited judicial process may be necessary to deal with flight risks. Unfortunately, once a company’s intellectual property is leaked and the information is made public—even illegally—the trade secret loses its legal protection. Put simply, state law is designed for intrastate litigation and offers limited practical recourse to victims of interstate trade secret theft. 

Now is the time to enable U.S. companies to easily and efficiently protect their trade secrets in federal court. The Defend Trade Secrets Act would do precisely that by creating a single uniform national baseline and facilitating companies’ abilities to make their case in federal court. Likewise, the bill would allow victims of trade secret theft to obtain a seizure order in extraordinary circumstances, allowing a federal judge to seize misappropriated property so that it isn’t abused during the pendency of litigation. The bill also supports the freedom of employees to move from one job to another.

The Senate’s vote is not only a watershed moment for the intellectual property and business communities, but also an example of what Congress can accomplish when we put party politics aside and find common ground. Indeed, enacting good public policy in the midst of a toxic presidential campaign is something to celebrate. We call on our colleagues to safeguard innovation and bolster American businesses by passing the Defend Trade Secrets Act.

Orrin Hatch, a Republican, is Utah’s senior senator. He has served since 1977 and is president pro tempore of the Senate, chairman of the Finance Committee, and also is a member of the Judiciary and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees. Chris Coons is Delaware’s junior senator, serving since 2010. The Democrat serves on the Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Ethics, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship committees.

Sen. Coons’ statement on Sunday’s Amtrak accident

WILMINGTON-U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement after an Amtrak train derailed between Wilmington and Philadelphia earlier today.

“My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this accident, all the passengers who were aboard the train, and their families. I am also grateful for the first responders and the medical professionals who responded to the scene.

“As someone who rides Amtrak almost every day between Wilmington and Washington, I know well how upsetting this accident is for people who travel up and down the Northeast Corridor.

“My office is in direct contact with Amtrak and the National Transportation Safety Board, and I will be pressing each of them for information on how this accident occurred. Safety has to be the number one concern for Amtrak, and I will do everything I can to ensure Amtrak and the federal government respond to this incident appropriately.”

Senator Coons applauds Obama Administration for reaffirming non-proliferation partnership with Kazakhstan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President Barack Obama and Kazak President Nursultan Nazarbayev released a joint statement on the occasion of the Nuclear Security Summit:

“I am pleased that today the Obama Administration reiterated the U.S. commitment to Kazakhstan’s non-proliferation efforts through a joint statement on the occasion of the fourth Nuclear Security Summit. For a quarter-century, Kazakhstan has served as a model for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and for other countries seeking to reduce the spread of nuclear weapons,” said Senator Coons.  

“This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Nunn-Lugar Program, named after U.S. Senators Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), who worked together to pass the Soviet Threat Reduction Act of 1991. The Nunn-Lugar Program successfully removed more than a thousand Soviet-era nuclear warheads from Kazakhstan and sanitized and secured hundreds of radioactive underground nuclear test sites in the country. The success of the Nunn-Lugar Program is a testament to the role the U.S. Senate can play in accomplishing American non-proliferation and foreign policy objectives.

“In recent years, Kazakhstan has ratified both the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone protocol, thereby pledging not to manufacture, acquire, test, or possess nuclear weapons, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which prohibits nuclear explosive testing. Kazakhstan has also worked with the IAEA to establish a Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel bank in Oskemen, Kazakhstan. This fuel bank will deter countries from seeking enrichment capabilities and is consistent with the rights of IAEA Member States to develop, research, produce, and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 

“Kazakhstan’s non-proliferation efforts are commendable and serve as an example for both current and aspiring nuclear powers that seek to act as responsible members of the international community. I echo President Obama’s continued support for Kazakhstan’s non-proliferation efforts, and call on the Senate to give its advice and consent for the ratification of Nuclear Weapon Free Zone protocols and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. I also urge Congress to provide stable, long-term funding for the IAEA and for the Senate to vote to confirm Laura Holgate as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations offices in Vienna, which include the IAEA. These efforts will reinforce the global non-proliferation regime and lead to a more stable and secure world.”

Senator Coons oped: “To make the Iran Deal work, we need to fund the world’s nuclear watchdog”

WASHINGTON – As heads of state gather today in Washington D.C. for the fourth Nuclear Security Summit, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, authored an oped in The Hill urging the U.S. to provide increased and sustained funding for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the organization responsible for monitoring Iran’s nuclear program under the terms of the nuclear agreement reached by the United States, five other global powers, and Iran last summer.

To make the Iran Deal work, we need to fund the world’s nuclear watchdog

By Senator Chris Coons

This Thursday in Washington, President Obama will convene heads of state from around the world for a fourth Nuclear Security Summit, a conference of world leaders dedicated to preventing nuclear terrorism and securing stockpiles of nuclear material around the world.

With terrorist organizations and rogue nations fomenting instability around the world, and as the international community’s leading powers work to enforce the nuclear deal with Iran, the challenge of preventing the use of nuclear weapons is not an academic exercise. As a global community, we need to take real, tangible steps to meet this challenge. The best first step we can take is to support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – the world’s nuclear watchdog.

Since 1957, world powers have tasked the IAEA with preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and making sure countries honor their international obligations to use nuclear technology and material for peaceful purposes.

With the agreement reached between the U.S., five other global powers, and Iran last summer, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), ensuring the IAEA can do its job has never been more important. The JCPOA gives the IAEA unprecedented access to monitor Iran’s nuclear efforts through highly intrusive physical inspections and 24-7 remote monitoring technology. Under the terms of the deal, the IAEA also has the authority to monitor and oversee every stage of Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle, from the mines from which uranium is extracted from the ground, to the facilities that enrich it into material that can be used in a nuclear bomb.

Conducting these inspections and maintaining this level of oversight is the IAEA’s job – but world powers have a responsibility to make sure the agency has the resources it needs. Access alone is not enough: to turn that access into effective oversight, while still fulfilling its regular mission of ensuring nonproliferation around the world, the IAEA needs long-term, sustainable funding.

In January, I traveled to the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, where I heard in person from Director General Yukiya Amano about the challenges the agency faces in fulfilling its new responsibilities under the JCPOA. Finding reliable funding is at the top of that list of challenges. A recent report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office echoes Amano’s concerns, stating, “the IAEA faces potential budgetary and human resource management challenges stemming from JCPOA-related workload.”

As Brent Scowcroft, who served ably as National Security Advisor to both President Gerald Ford and President George H.W. Bush, wrote in an August 21, 2015, Washington Post op-ed, Congress “should ensure that the International Atomic Energy Agency, other relevant bodies, and U.S. intelligence agencies have all the resources necessary to facilitate inspection and monitor compliance” with the nuclear deal.

It is no understatement to say that the IAEA’s very credibility is on the line as it begins to monitor, inspect, and verify the status of Iran’s nuclear program.

The IAEA could not do this job without the ongoing support of the United States. America develops the inspections technology on which the IAEA depends, and we train and support IAEA inspectors, scientists, and staff, particularly through our system of national laboratories. Since 1980, every single IAEA inspector has been trained at least once at the Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico. At any given time, approximately 20 percent of IAEA inspectors are undergoing training or re-training at national labs across the United States.

The commitment made by American scientists and taxpayers to the IAEA has taken on even greater importance since the Iran nuclear deal took effect. Yet the President’s budget request does not include an increase of $10.6 million – the full amount the IAEA has stated it requires to effectively implement the nuclear agreement. Just as troubling, it is only a short-term fix.

Reliable, sustained funding is essential to the IAEA’s ability to attract the best and brightest scientists and utilize cutting edge technologies needed toconduct its global non-proliferation work beyond the Iran deal and take full advantage of the unprecedented access granted under the deal, not just this year, or the next five, but over the next 25 years and beyond.

That’s why I’ve urged Congress to increase America’s voluntary contribution to the IAEA to a level $10.6 million above the President’s request, and to commit to sustained support in the future.

This increase will provide the IAEA with the resources it needs to ensure safe, secure, and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology arounf the world. Nowhere is this more important than Iran. With the resources I propose the IAEA can implement the JCPOA in the short-term, while the international community works to ensure a reliable, long-term source of funding. American representatives at the U.N. offices in Vienna could direct extra funding to specific projects or withhold it from others, allowing us to address unanticipated needs without discouraging other donors from fulfilling their obligations.

Whether my colleagues supported or opposed the JCPOA, surely we can agree that it is in America’s interest to see the IAEA succeed and attract the brightest young scientists from around the world, and to train and deploy the most effective inspectors, for years to come.

In a speech to the United Nations in December 1953, President Eisenhower proclaimed U.S. support for an international organization charged with putting nuclear technology “into the hands of those who will know how to strip its military casing and adapt it to the arts of peace.” Four years later, that organization became the IAEA.

Today, to fully and sustainably fund the IAEA is to make a sound investment in a highly technical organization that directly contributes to international peace and security. While aggressively enforcing the terms of the nuclear deal with Iran demands involvement from every actor on the international stage, increasing America’s voluntary contribution to the IAEA by an additional $10.6 million is a step Congress can take today that would send a clear, unambiguous message to Iran and the world.

If the United States is to continue to lead this effort, Democrats and Republicans must come together to aggressively enforce the terms of the nuclear deal. Let’s start by giving the IAEA the resources it needs to do its job.

Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics committees

Senator Coons applauds Obama Administration actions against Iran

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. charged seven Iranians for cyber attacks on several U.S. banks and a New York dam in 2011 and 2013.

“I am pleased to see the Obama Administration show its commitment to taking action against the government of Iran, Iranian entities, and those seeking to evade sanctions against Iran,”said Senator Coons.  “Just today, we learned of a series of Iranian cyberattacks between 2011 and 2013 aimed at New York City, and Iran continues to test ballistic missiles, support terrorism, and commit human rights violations, so it is essential that the U.S. government work to counter these activities.”

“Today’s announcements that the Administration is cracking down on seven experienced Iranian computer hackers,  individuals and entities affiliated with ballistic missile tests, and Iran’s state-sponsored airline’s efforts to avoid sanctions are a step in the right direction.  These important steps to hold Iran accountable follow encouraging news earlier this week of charges against a consultant to the Iranian mission to the United Nations and the arrest of a Turkish national for conspiring to evade sanctions against Iran. 

“I am also pleased to see the U.S. Navy and U.S. intelligence community working with the Australian Navy to interdict a shipment of weapons from Iran to Yemen.  The seizure of more than 2,000 pieces of weaponry represents a success for those seeking a more stable Middle East free from Iranian meddling.  I commend the Administration for this work and look forward to seeing similar actions in the future.  Pushing back against Iran’s destabilizing role in the region remains fundamentally important to U.S. interests in the Middle East and support for our allies in the region and around the world.”

Senator Coons’ statement on Brussels attacks

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

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of Brussels this morning. While those who perpetrate this senseless violence seek to stoke fear, the United States and Europe will remain vigilant and defiant in the face of such terrorism. We refuse to let these cowardly acts lead us toward further division. We do not accept that these attacks are part of some sort of new normal for Europe.

“Instead, we must redouble our efforts to defeat global terrorist networks and disrupt the flow of foreign fighters moving from the Middle East into Europe. We must improve intelligence sharing and coordination and migrant screening in Europe. We must continue to take the fight to the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and elsewhere, and we must harden our defenses here at home. The United States and our European allies will find those who planned and executed these attacks, and we will bring them to justice.”

Sen. Coons on Medium: “For far too many, America’s legal system is about punishment, not justice”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, authored an oped on why our criminal justice system is broken and the need for Congress to pass the bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 2123). 

Read the full piece on Medium here: http://bit.ly/1T42ydb

The oped is part of the Congress Acts: Criminal Justice Reform series, a collection of pieces written by members of Congress about the need for criminal justice reform.

Excerpts from Coons’ oped: “For far too many, America’s legal system is about punishment, not justice”

“The population of my home state of Delaware is 22 percent black?—?yet nearly 60 percent of the prison population is African-American. This disparity reflects a tragic pattern across the United States, where decades of “tough on crime” and “war on drugs” rhetoric have been matched by equally unsustainable and unjust public policies.”

We have a bill supported by Democrats and Republicans and a diverse coalition of faith, reform, and advocacy groups. We have a President who has acted to end solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons, and who is ready and willing to sign a broader package of criminal justice reforms into law. Now it’s up to Congress.”

“We would be well-served to remember that it is our responsibility not just to punish those guilty of crimes, but also to judge our neighbors fairly and do our best to help them reenter society.” 

“We must fight for an America in which parents anywhere, of any race or religion, are empowered to raise kings and queens of their own, and where our justice system truly lives up to its name.”

Senators urge full funding of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and a bipartisan group of 25 Senators are urging for full funding of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in fiscal year (FY) 2017. This program is critical to the 251,000 abused or neglected children who have highly trained and deeply dedicated CASA advocates appointed on their behalf, and to the 451,000 child victims who are still waiting for the presence of a consistent, caring adult to speak for their best interests in the courtroom and in the community.

In a letter to the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Member, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward Markey (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mark  Warner (D-VA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and David Perdue (R-GA) called for $12 million in funding for the CASA program.

“This funding is critical to improving outcomes for every abused and neglected child, as was the intention of Congress when it enacted the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990,” wrote the Senators. “Children who languish in the foster care system without a safe and permanent home face diminished chances for success. Abused and neglected children often experience several layers of trauma and face multiple risk factors including juvenile and adult delinquency, homelessness, substance use disorders, mental health issues, teen pregnancy, and lower academic achievement.”

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or remain in inappropriate group or foster homes. In 2015, more than 76,000 CASA and GAL volunteers helped more than 251,000 abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes.  While funding for the program increased last fiscal year from $6 million to $9 million, the program is authorized at $12 million.

The full text of the letter is available below, or click here:

The Honorable Thad Cochran

Chairman

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee

U.S. Capitol, Room 128

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Richard C. Shelby

Chairman

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 142

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Barbara A. Mikulski

Vice Chairwoman

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee

U.S. Capitol, Room 146A

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Barbara A. Mikulski

Ranking Member

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Hart Senate Office Building, Room 125

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Cochran, Chairman Shelby and Vice Chairwoman/Ranking Member Mikulski:

We respectfully urge you to fully fund the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in fiscal year (FY) 2017.  This program is critical to the 251,000 abused or neglected children who have highly trained and deeply dedicated CASA advocates appointed on their behalf, and to the 451,000 child victims who are still waiting for the presence of a consistent, caring adult to speak for their best interests in the courtroom and in the community. This funding is critical to improving outcomes for every abused and neglected child, as was the intention of Congress when it enacted the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.

CASA programs across the country provide specially trained and supervised citizen-advocates to assure that the needs and rights of our most vulnerable victims are met. Judges appoint CASA advocates to their most difficult and complex cases because the individual dedicates sustained, long-term attention to the child’s needs. In addition to providing direct services to child victims, CASA program funds are used to ensure that every child receives the highest possible quality of services and care, through national training, program standards, technical assistance, and resources that utilize evidence-based and trauma-informed practices.

Children who languish in the foster care system without a safe and permanent home face diminished chances for success. Abused and neglected children often experience several layers of trauma and face multiple risk factors including juvenile and adult delinquency, homelessness, substance use disorders, mental health issues, teen pregnancy, and lower academic achievement. More than 76,000 CASA advocates across the country seek to change the trajectory of these children’s lives, in part with Congressional support. Local programs – supported through state offices across the country – utilize this critical funding to deliver dedicated advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children in communities nationwide. 

CASA advocacy also demonstrates good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. A child with a CASA advocate is more likely to be placed into a safe, permanent home and far less likely to re-enter the child welfare system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimates the economic and social costs of child abuse and neglect to total $124 billion nationwide. Research shows that the presence of a caring, consistent adult for a youth in foster care is associated with improved adult outcomes.

These are difficult times that require difficult choices.  Funding the CASA program, however, is fiscally responsible. We urge you to fully fund CASA in FY 2017.