Senators Carper, Coons cosponsor resolution reaffirming access to emergency health care, including abortion care

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined a resolution led by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today reaffirming that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. The introduction comes as new reporting from ProPublica makes plain that Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care, resulting in preventable deaths.

“Every American, no matter where they live, deserves to receive the health care that they need,” said Senator Carper. “Reproductive health care continues to be attacked all across our country. Women and their doctors, not politicians and judges, should make these private health care decisions.”

“New reporting makes clear what many Americans have suspected: Women are dying because of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and conservative states’ Trumpian abortion bans,” said Senator Coons. “Since the elimination of the federal right to an abortion, pregnant women who are in desperate need of medical attention are being turned away from emergency rooms, while doctors are afraid of being jailed for providing lifesaving care. I will fight tirelessly to protect emergency abortion care so that women don’t have to take their lives into their own hands when becoming pregnant.”

“I introduced this resolution alongside my colleagues to simply reaffirm the basic principle that when you go to the ER, doctors should be allowed to treat you, and when you need emergency care – including abortion care – no politician should stop you from getting it,” said Senator Murray. “Yet here in America, in the 21st century, pregnant women die – not because doctors don’t know how to save them, but because doctors don’t know if Republicans will let them. Democrats will keep pressing to fully restore reproductive freedoms for every woman in America and we will continue to put a white-hot spotlight on the devastating, deadly fallout of Donald Trump’s abortion bans.”

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, nearly two-dozen Republican-led U.S. states have banned or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear that they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even charged with a felony if they perform lifesaving emergency care. Despite the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, pregnant people are being turned away from emergency rooms. New reporting by ProPublica this week reported on the death of Amber Furman, a Georgia woman who died of medical complications after failing to receive a routine medical procedure that doctors were afraid to carry out because of Georgia’s new anti-abortion law.

This summer, in Moyle v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to reaffirm that federal law requires pregnant patients to have access to lifesaving emergency care in every state, but instead, the court dismissed the case and sent it back to the lower courts, effectively punting on making a decision on the case itself. While the litigation continues in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. One-hundred-and-twenty-one congressional Republicans, including 26 senators, filed an amicus brief arguing that EMTALA does not require hospitals to provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life.

Alongside Senator Murray, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) co-led the introduction of the resolution. In addition to Senators Carper and Coons, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.),George Helmy (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

The resolution is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Reproductive Freedom For All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, All* Above All, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, National Council of Jewish Women, and National Partnership for Women and Families.

The House companion bill was introduced last week by U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.).

The full text of the resolution can be read here.

OSHA pledges to reevaluate proposed rule after Senator Coons, colleagues call to protect volunteer firefighters from burdensome regulations

WASHINGTON – This week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) responded to calls by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and their colleagues to reevaluate and exempt volunteer fire departments from parts of a proposed rule that would apply burdensome new regulations to volunteer fire departments in Delaware and across the country.

“Delaware’s volunteer fire companies already face unprecedented challenges trying to keep their communities safe,” said Senator Coons. “OSHA’s proposed rule– while well-intended – would add a massive burden to under-resourced and understaffed volunteer fire departments, requiring expensive new equipment and trainings that the departments cannot afford. I’m glad OSHA is listening and responding to our shared concerns. I will always recognize our firefighters’ bravery and work to ensure they can fully protect the communities they serve.”

“Volunteer fire departments and rural communities have made their voices heard, and I am pleased OSHA has listened and is reevaluating the proposed rule,” said Senator Moran. “This is a great first step, and I encourage Kansans to continue sharing their views with OSHA on how this rule would place a financial burden on volunteer fire departments.”

OSHA proposed a new rule earlier this year that would require fire departments to furnish new reports, trainings, equipment, and health services.

In August, Senator Coons and Moran called on Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor Julie Su to exempt volunteer fire departments from parts of the proposed rule. The effort was also supported by Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

This week, OSHA issued a statement that it is reevaluating the financial and regulatory impact the rule would have on volunteer firefighters: “OSHA has received comments in response to the NPRM [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking] from many stakeholders, including volunteer emergency responders, fire chiefs, trade organizations, and members of Congress, which raise serious concerns about the economic feasibility of the proposed standard for volunteer fire departments. OSHA takes these concerns seriously. This new information will help the agency make the necessary determinations about whether the proposed standard is feasible for volunteer organizations.

“OSHA is committed to taking steps in any final standard, consistent with the rulemaking record, to assess and minimize detrimental effects on volunteer fire departments. If supported by the record, this may include excluding voluntary emergency response organizations entirely based on these feasibility concerns.”

The full statement from OSHA can be found here.

OSHA will hold a public rulemaking hearing on November 12, 2024, and stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments for the hearing. Instructions for how to participate in the hearing are available on the Emergency Response rulemaking webpage.

Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester announce nearly $9 million in upgrades to Delaware airports

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) announced nearly $9 million from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to the Wilmington Airport, the Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, and the Delaware Airpark in Dover. 

“Investing in Delaware’s airports provides more than just support for aviation – they are a hub for economic development in our three counties,” said Senator Carper. “These airports help us create a nurturing environment for businesses to grow and expand, and provide good-paying jobs for Delawareans.”

“Expanding and improving our state’s airports will help spur economic development in Delaware,” said Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The investments being announced will ensure our airports remain attractive destinations for both commercial and general aviation. I am proud to have helped deliver this funding to Delaware’s airports.”

“From New Castle to Dover to Georgetown, the federal funding we’re announcing today will be instrumental in ensuring the durability of airports across our state,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to have worked alongside Senators Carper and Coons to secure these investments in general and commercial aviation that will help expand capacity, create jobs, support local and small businesses, and grow Delaware’s economy.”   

“On behalf of the DRBA commissioners and staff, we would like to thank the Delaware congressional delegation for their collective efforts to secure vital funding to expand a taxiway at the Wilmington Airport and to enlarge the apron capacity to accommodate more based aircraft at Delaware Airpark,” said Thomas J. Cook, Executive Director, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA). “General aviation facilities rely on federal funding for infrastructure enhancements and security improvements, which provide the foundation required for continued aviation success and sustainable business development. Both the Wilmington Airport and Delaware Airpark are well-positioned for future growth and prosperity.”

“Sussex County appreciates the delegation’s continued support to improve and enhance Delaware Coastal Airport, and this funding will do just that with our parallel taxiway project,” said Robert Bryant, Airport Manager, Delaware Coastal Airport. “This multiphase effort will ultimately make for a safer pattern for arriving and departing aircraft, eliminating the need for pilots and guests to cross existing taxiways to access the parking aprons, and increase the airport’s overall operation and efficiency.”

The Wilmington International Airport was awarded $3,270,000 to expand Taxiway B; the Delaware Coastal Airport was awarded $3,473,464 to construct a new paved taxiway, and the Delaware Airpark was awarded $2,022,391 to expand the existing Western Apron to accommodate more based aircraft.

The funding for these three projects in Delaware is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement of over $2 billion in AIP grants for projects across the country. A portion of this funding is based off a formula that uses passenger volume, while additional discretionary funding is awarded on a competitive basis.

Senators Coons, Cassidy introduce bill to reauthorize and strengthen AmeriCorps programs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Co-Chairs of the National Service Congressional Caucus, introduced legislation today that would reauthorize and strengthen AmeriCorps programs, which provide vital national service opportunities to more than 200,000 Americans each year in thousands of communities around the country. In addition to Senators Coons and Cassidy, the Promoting Service Through AmeriCorps (PSA) Act is also cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.). U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Garret Graves (R-La.), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) have introduced bipartisan companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“If you value your community and want to see local solutions to big problems, all while building a more united nation, you should support the reauthorization of AmeriCorps,” said Senator Coons. “AmeriCorps members and volunteers serve on the front lines addressing the unique needs of their communities, from responding to natural disasters and public health emergencies, to improving youth literacy and mental health. They deserve a modern program that works for them and opens new doors to education and career opportunities. By investing in service through AmeriCorps, we are investing in a brighter future where more Americans can better themselves, help their neighbors, and serve our country.”

“AmeriCorps members devote considerable time to meet the needs of their communities and help improve lives,” said Senator Cassidy. “This legislation strengthens AmeriCorps and provides more opportunities for Americans to serve.”

“Part of our country’s essence is the willingness and desire to serve our fellow Americans,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “That’s why, as Co-Chair of the National Service Congressional Caucus, I have fought hard to ensure service opportunities are accessible and impactful across the nation. By aligning incentives and improving the member experience, the Participating in Service Though AmeriCorps Act will help preserve the promise we made to the first AmeriCorps class 30 years ago – to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation that will enable the next 30-plus years of Americans to step forward and answer the call to serve.”

The PSA Act would reauthorize the AmeriCorps programs authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. These programs were last reauthorized in 2009.

AmeriCorps members serve in more than 50,000 locations across the country each year. Bringing together federal, state, and philanthropic resources, AmeriCorps programs address the critical needs of at-risk youth, seniors, and veterans and promote education, public safety and health, and the environment. Since 1993, more than 1.2 million Americans have served their communities through AmeriCorps. 

The PSA Act would:

• Increase the flexibility of the Segal Education Award, which AmeriCorps members can use to repay student loans or pay current tuition and educational expenses, in order to expand workforce development opportunities through service and improve the pathway from AmeriCorps to post-secondary education.
• Standardize eligibility requirements and benefits across AmeriCorps programs to better support members during and after their service terms.
• Create more opportunities to serve by authorizing positions with shorter terms of service and codifying an expanded age eligibility range for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.
• Establish an Office of Alumni Engagement to strengthen recruitment and foster a shared identity among current and former AmeriCorps members.
• Reauthorize the national service laws through 2029. 

The PSA Act is endorsed by Voices for National Service, City Year, America’s Service Commissions, States for Service Coalition, 9/11 Day of Service, Service Year Alliance, With Honor Action, Third Way, Hunger Free America, The Corps Network, Public Allies, College Possible, Colorado Youth Corps Association, GO Foundation, Jumpstart for Young Children, Partners for Rural Impact, Points of Light, Reading Partners, Resolutionaries, YMCA of the USA, Campus Compact, Habitat for Humanity International, America Forward, Bay Area Community Resources, CoGenerate, College Possible, Conservation Legacy, iFoster, Improve Your Tomorrow, Lead for America, Massachusetts Service Alliance, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers, OneStar Foundation, Teach for America, The Child Abuse Prevention Center, SBP, YouthBuild USA, Team Democracy, Move for America, Civic Health Project, Community 3.0x, and Afterschool Alliance.

“At a time when the demand for the services AmeriCorps members provide to their communities is so high, it is important that Congress invests in and reauthorizes this vital resource for the nation,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service. “The PSA Act provides more opportunities for Americans to serve, expands member benefits to support recruitment and improve the member experience, strengthens pathways to education and employment for AmeriCorps members, and authorizes federal funding for the next five years. We are extraordinarily grateful to Senators Coons and Cassidy and Representatives Matsui and Graves for their unwavering support of AmeriCorps and look forward to working with them and their colleagues to advance the PSA Act through the legislative process.” 

“On behalf of state and territorial service commissions, we applaud the bipartisan work that has gone into developing and introducing this important legislation,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO, America’s Service Commissions. “This bill reflects key reforms that states and local programs have been working toward to improve national service and volunteering in America, expand opportunities to serve our communities, and ensure our states, AmeriCorps members, and volunteers are best supported to make those impacts. We look forward to working with the bill sponsors on passing and improving on these important reforms, and increase funding, to set up our states and national service more broadly for success in the future.”

The full text of the bill is available here.  

A section-by-section summary is available here. 

A one-pager is available here. 

A full list of endorsement quotes is available here.

Senators Coons, Murphy release statement on Biden administration’s decision to send aid to Egypt despite failure to meet conditions set by Congress

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS), and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Wednesday released the following statement on the Biden administration’s decision to send $95 million in U.S. aid to Egypt despite its failure to make clear and consistent progress on releasing political prisoners – a condition that Congress placed on the aid:

“The law is clear: Egypt is required to make ‘clear and consistent progress’ in releasing political prisoners in order to receive $95 million – a small portion – of its $1.3 billion military aid package this year. The Egyptian government has failed that test. Over the last year, for every single political prisoner Egypt has released, it has jailed two more. That’s not clear and consistent progress – it’s one step forward and two steps back. And among the thousands and thousands of political prisoners the government has continued to refuse to release are two U.S. legal permanent residents, Hosam Khalaf and Salah Soltan.”

Senators Coons, Cassidy, Kaine, Collins, Wyden introduce the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) introduced the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act to protect the Social Security benefits of Americans who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. In addition to Senators Coons and Cassidy, this legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). 

“Americans who have been wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad face far too many financial hurdles when they come home – some immediate, and some they won’t feel until they reach retirement age,” said Senator Coons. “Americans like Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan shouldn’t have to suffer permanently reduced Social Security benefits because they had little or no income during their years in captivity. The Retirement Security for American Hostages Act is a crucial step we can take to support these Americans who have been through unimaginable hardship.” 

“Americans held hostage should not lose Social Security benefits,” said Senator Cassidy. “This is a small thing compared to losing freedom, but sometimes small things make a difference.”

“When Americans who were wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad are finally brought home, we must do everything we can to support them,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m joining my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Retirement Security for American Hostages Act to ensure Americans who were held captive aren’t penalized when they collect Social Security.”

“When an American hostage is finally returned home from their unjust detention, they should not be forced to face undue financial stress as a result of their unavoidable time lost in the workforce,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that freed Americans, such as the recently released Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, are not left in permanent financial distress as a result of their undeserved time in bondage.”

“Americans who were held hostage shouldn’t be hurt by a retirement system that doesn’t account for the injustice and hardship they faced,” said Senator Wyden. “This bipartisan bill will ensure that people who were wrongfully detained overseas are not penalized after they make it home. They deserve to live freely without being deprived of their earned Social Security benefits.”

On August 1, several Americans were released from Russian detention as part of a historic prisoner exchange. These individuals now face several financial obstacles resulting from their captivity, including diminished Social Security benefits when they reach retirement. Because they may not have received a paycheck or paid payroll taxes while in captivity, their Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), which determines their Social Security benefit upon retirement, may have diminished by a meaningful amount.

The Retirement Security for American Hostages Act would amend the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) calculation of Social Security benefits for individuals identified as wrongful detainees by the U.S. Department of State and individuals identified as hostages by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell. The bill would require SSA to assume “deemed wages” equal to the national average for each month a former hostage or detainee was detained when calculating their AIME.

Senator Coons has been a strong advocate for reducing the burden on American wrongful detainees and their families. This summer, Senators Coons and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the Fair Credit for American Hostages Act, which would protect the credit scores of Americans who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. Earlier this year, the Senate unanimously cleared Senators Coons and Mike Rounds’ (R-S.D.) Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which would stop the IRS from imposing fines and penalties on American hostages and wrongful detainees for late tax payments while they are held abroad. In January 2024, President Biden signed into law Senator Coons’ bipartisan bill to establish March 9 as the annual National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. 

“I am delighted to see the introduction of the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act and am grateful for the ongoing efforts of Senator Coons and Senator Cassidy to address the collateral damage brought to bear on innocent Americans victimized by hostile foreign nations via hostage diplomacy,” said Elizabeth Whelan, sister of U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former wrongful detainee Paul Whelan. “Without this act, released Americans will suffer needlessly in the years ahead. Their ordeal will never end, and in addition to any other struggles, they will bear a financial burden for another country’s wrongdoing. I hope that Congress will pass the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act. It is a simple and straightforward concept with an enormous positive impact on the lives of those who have already suffered so much.”

“The lives of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained are forever altered in damaging ways that can continue upon their release and return home,” said Diane Foley, President, the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation. “This bill provides an important measure of relief to reduce the burdens faced by those who are lucky enough to be freed.”

“The Bring Our Families Home Campaign enthusiastically supports the introduction of the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act by Senators Coons and Cassidy,” said Harrison Li, Steering Committee Member, the Bring Our Families Home Campaign. “The act would help mitigate some of the financial burden unjustly borne by our families and we hope it provides yet another reminder to the president to #BringThemHome.”

“Hostage US endorses the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act as it addresses a critical and often overlooked hardship faced by former hostages and wrongful detainees,” said Liz Cathcart, Executive Director, Hostage US. “As the leading organization providing reintegration support and resources to former captives, we see firsthand the long-term impact captivity has on individuals and their loved ones. By ensuring that time spent in captivity doesn’t lead to reduced Social Security benefits, this legislation provides essential support for Americans who have already endured so much. It is a necessary step toward giving former hostages the confidence they need to reintegrate and ensuring the security they deserve in retirement.”

The legislation is endorsed by the Bring Our Families Home Campaign, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, and Hostage US.

A one-pager is available here.

The full text of the bill is available here.

Senators Coons, Ricketts introduce resolution celebrating the 73rd anniversary of our mutual defense treaty with the Philippines

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) introduced a resolution celebrating the 73^rd anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the United States and Philippines. The resolution reaffirms the United States’ commitment to the defense of the Philippines under the MDT, particularly in the wake of persistent and escalating aggression by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea.

“Chinese harassment against Filipinos simply trying to uphold their territorial sovereignty threatens global trade and security and could result in wider conflict,” said Senator Coons. “As we celebrate the 73rd Anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Philippines alliance and pledge to stand with our Filipino partners in their efforts to defend their territorial sovereignty and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

“For 73 years, the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty has served as the foundation of our alliance and steadfast commitment to each other’s security,” said Senator Ricketts. “This commitment is more important than ever given the PRC’s increased harassment and intimidation of our allies and partners in the South China Sea. We must continue to send a clear message to Beijing that the United States stands with the Philippines and will act to retore deterrence and ensure our ally can defend itself.”

The resolution:

• Celebrates the 73rd anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines and the longstanding alliance between our two nations;
• Appreciates the trust of the Philippine people in the bilateral alliance, and their support for increased defense cooperation and U.S. military presence in the Philippines;
• Acknowledges the determination of the Philippine people and their armed forces to resist PRC coercion;
• Condemns the PRC’s persistent and unprovoked aggression in the South China Sea to enforce its unlawful territorial and sovereignty claims;
• Reaffirms that Article IV of the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on the armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft of the Philippines, including the Philippine Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea;
• Considers PRC aggression in the Philippines’ internationally-recognized exclusive economic zone to be direct assaults on its sovereignty and territorial integrity;
• Urges the president to take appropriate and necessary actions in response to escalatory PRC behavior to restore deterrence and help the Philippines defend itself;
• Supports the unwavering commitment of the United States to deepening security cooperation with the Philippines, including advancing its defense modernization and enhancing interoperability through military exercises, training, joint patrols, and increased information sharing;
• Supports other nations growing their political and security partnerships with the Philippines;
• Commits to increase cooperation among the United States, the Philippines, Japan, and Australia;
• Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, respecting maritime rights under international law, and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Senators Coons and Ricketts are both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

You can read the full resolution here.

Senator Coons statement on murdered hostages

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Israeli Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six hostages who were murdered by Hamas after being held hostage for nearly a year, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American citizen: 
 
“I am heartbroken and angry at the news that six hostages whose bodies were recovered in Gaza today were brutally murdered after 11 months in captivity. I am thinking especially of Jon and Rachel, Hersh’s parents, whom I’ve come to know through their tireless, courageous, and determined efforts to secure the release of their beloved son since he was taken hostage on October 7. I truly believed they would be reunited with Hersh; instead, today they are living every parent’s worst nightmare.
 
“Hamas is an organization of true evil, and its leaders must pay for their heinous crimes. We must secure a deal that frees the remaining hostages so that not one more parent has to feel the same pain that Jon and Rachel feel today.
 
“May the memory of these six brave souls be a blessing.”
 
Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

ICYMI: Ahead of next week’s House return, Fox News highlights Senator Coons’ bipartisan Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier covered a bipartisan bill from U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), which would prevent the IRS from imposing fines and penalties on American hostages and wrongful detainees while they are held abroad. When the U.S. House of Representatives returns to session next week, it can send the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act directly to the president’s desk by passing it.

Fox News: Policymakers renew calls for legislation to prevent IRS fines and penalties on American hostages

Fox News last night highlighted how American hostages and wrongful detainees face IRS fines and fees upon their return home, such as late payment penalties for failing to file their tax returns while imprisoned. The IRS has made clear this problem can only be fixed through congressional action.

Senator Coons first heard about this outlandish policy from Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter who was wrongfully detained by the Iranian government for more than a year. Upon his release and return to the United States, Rezaian owed over $20,000 to the IRS in fines and late fees, Fox News reported. After hearing Rezaian’s story, Senator Coons took action and introduced the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act with Senator Rounds. 

In May, the bill cleared the Senate unanimously. If the House passes an identical bill, then it will be deemed to have passed the Senate as well and will be sent immediately to the president’s desk for his signature to make it law.

Senator Coons has long been an advocate for reducing the financial and emotional burdens on American hostages and their families. In June, Senators Coons and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the Fair Credit for American Hostages Act to repair the credit scores of those held hostage or wrongfully detained. He also led a bipartisan bill with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), which President Biden signed into law, to establish a National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day and flag.

The full segment is available here. 

Senators Coons and Ricketts, colleagues write bipartisan letter supporting U.S. efforts to enhance diplomatic engagement with Pacific Islands countries

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of this week’s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting where they expressed their support for broader and deeper U.S. engagement with countries of the Pacific Islands region. 

The 53rd PIF Leaders Meeting taking place this week in Tonga will be attended by 18 member states; the United States is not a member of the PIF, but will send a delegation as a dialogue partner of the Forum. In their letter, the senators urged Secretary Blinken to highlight U.S. accomplishments and efforts to collaborate with countries of the Pacific Islands region in ways that will reinforce and expand our nations’ relations in the years to come, despite heightened international competition and growing economic and environmental challenges.

“From publishing the Pacific Partnership Strategy to hosting the first-ever U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit, the United States has elevated our engagement with the Pacific Islands region to a foremost U.S. foreign policy priority,” wrote the senators. “As a dialogue partner of the PIF, it is critical that the United States continues to demonstrate this commitment to the region as a strong ally … [and] push forward tangible implementation of deliverables outlined in the Pacific Partnership Strategy, previous U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum summits, and elsewhere.”

Senator Coons and others particularly asked the U.S. delegation to provide clear updates at the Forum on several commitments the United States has discussed with PIF members, including:

• Openings of U.S. embassies in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Tonga; 

• Increasing cabinet and sub-cabinet level visits to the region;
• Implementation of the Compacts of Free Association; 
• Status of the USAID mission in Fiji and its operations; 
• Implementation of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability in Papua New Guinea and coordination on the Defense Cooperation Agreement;
• Implementation of the Partners in the Blue Pacific Fisheries and Ocean Science Vessel Initiative;
• Provision of programming and support for healthcare systems and healthcare infrastructure of Pacific Islands countries;
• Return of the Peace Corps to a number of countries in the region. 

You can read the full letter here.