Senator Coons applauds $1 billion contribution to Green Climate Fund and additional climate support in developing countries

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today celebrated the Biden administration’s announcement that it will contribute $1 billion to the Green Climate Fund and take additional steps to leverage other donors’ efforts to address global challenges like climate change. Senator Coons is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“Unprecedented global challenges require an ambitious response. I am proud to have worked with the Biden administration and my colleagues to enable a $1 billion contribution to the Green Climate Fund and the additional steps being taken to strengthen U.S. leadership in the global effort to address climate change,” said Senator Coons.

As Chair of the SFOPS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Coons has led efforts to enhance U.S. leadership on climate action, including through increased investments by the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. His bicameral and bipartisan U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act to fund public-private partnerships would support local communities around the world in effectively managing protected conservation areas.  

The Green Climate Fund was established by 194 governments to help developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist vulnerable communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change. As of April, the Green Climate Fund has committed over $12 billion for 216 projects to increase the use of clean energy, build community resilience, and catalyze private investment, avoiding approximately 2.5 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions. 

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VIDEO: Senator Coons chairs Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee hearing on USAID budget with Administrator Power

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Chris Coons (D-Del.) held a hearing yesterday to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID Administrator Samantha Power was the witness.

As SFOPS Chair, Senator Coons continues to lead efforts to make critical investments that will advance American security and prosperity in an increasingly complex world. In today’s hearing, he discussed the importance of funding for USAID as it plays a lead role in addressing population displacement, food insecurity, democratic backsliding, a global economic crisis, and many other challenges, while working to seize opportunities to advance U.S. interests.

A video and transcript of Senator Coons’ opening remarks are available below.

Full audio and video available here.

Senator Chris Coons: I call this hearing to order. Today, the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and Related Programs of the Senate Appropriations Committee meets to review the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the United States Agency for International Development, and we are honored to have Administrator Samantha Power with us. Administrator Power, it is always an honor and a privilege to have you before us. We have a lot to cover. You have a lot going on and a lot of responsibilities, and so we appreciate your making yourself available. It is unfortunate that we have two – at least two – other compelling hearings on similar or related topics. So, please be understanding that a number of our colleagues intend to come in and out. I am grateful that the Vice Chair of the full committee, my friend and colleague from Maine, Susan Collins [R], is serving as the Ranking [Member] for this hearing and will help open the hearing. I know that the Ranking Member of this subcommittee, Senator [Lindsey] Graham [R-S.C.], will join us in just a few minutes. 

The FY24 request for this subcommittee’s budget, including staff and programs of State, [US]AID, MCC [Millennium Challenge Corporation], DFC [U.S. International Development Finance Corporation], and other agencies, is in total $68.6 billion. $6.8 billion, or 11% above the FY 23 enacted level — still not even one penny on the dollar of U.S. defense spending. If you include the supplemental funding that was provided in ’23 to address Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the FY 24 request would actually be a 15% cut over the overall expenditures. So, with this relatively modest funding, Administrator Power, you’re being asked to confront an historic confluence of complex global challenges: a record number of refugees and internally displaced persons, more than 100 million people forcibly uprooted; food insecurity steadily on the rise, with an expected 345 million people projected to experience intense food insecurity this year — more than double the level just three years ago; sustained democratic backsliding, marked by corruption and increased repression; a global debt crisis amongst the poorer countries coming out of COVID-19; economic competition and coercion from authoritarian actors like the PRC [People’s Republic of China]; and while we continue to focus on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there are many other humanitarian crises around the world: Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, and many others. 

USAID is tasked with a leading role in the U.S. government’s response to these many challenges, which is also critical to bolstering U.S. national security, our reputation, and our place in the world. I am grateful for the service of all the development professionals at USAID, whom I’ve had the opportunity to visit in a dozen countries just in the last few months. I am proud of the work we have done here on a bipartisan basis on this subcommittee and full committee to help you better grow, equip, and support USAID’s workforce, to apply lessons learned from your predecessors, and adapt the agency to strengthen locally led development and cooperation with the American private sector. I know we have a lot more to do together.

I look forward to hearing from you this morning about your proposals for how we can best leverage our development tools to advance our national interests; how you define those interests; where does USAID fit in; and what are you doing to better tell the story globally of USAID’s vital work. I’ll say to you at the outset what I said in our previous hearing to Secretary [Antony] Blinken: Your task is daunting, and this subcommittee must both rigorously oversee your work and ensure you have the support and resources you need to protect and advance our national security and our national values. You cannot be asked to do more with less. That’s why I’m encouraged by the FY24 budget request for your agency and the rest of the State and Foreign Operations budget, as the challenges of our time demand bold investments. Thank you, Administrator Power, for joining us. I look forward to your testimony, and I’ll now turn to Vice Chair Collins.

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VIDEO: Senator Coons chairs Judiciary IP Subcommittee hearing on foreign threats to U.S. innovation and economy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Chris Coons (D-Del.) chaired a hearing today focused on exploring the foreign threats to U.S. intellectual property (IP) alongside U.S. Senator and Ranking Member Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). During the hearing, entitled “Foreign Competitive Threats to American Innovation and Economic Leadership,” Senator Coons welcomed leading IP experts to discuss the legal and illegal means foreign competitors and adversaries use to try to supplant American innovation and the ways we can improve the U.S. IP system to counter these foreign threats.

Senator Coons has been an advocate of protecting and strengthening U.S. IP and has introduced several bills during the last two Congresses that would make U.S. IP law more reliable, effective, and predictable, including the STRONGER Patents Act and the SHOP Safe Act.

A video and transcript of Senator Coons’ opening remarks are available below.

WATCH HERE:

Senator Chris Coons: This hearing will come to order. I’d like to thank our four witnesses for participating today. I’d like to also thank Ranking Member Tillis and his staff for working so closely together with me and mine on a consensus basis. You and your team, Senator, have been a great partner on these issues, and I thank you for your partnership and leadership. Today, we’re going to explore foreign threats to American innovation and economic leadership.

This is a timely and critical topic, and I’m looking forward to a productive conversation. America’s leadership on the global stage depends on our ability to foster and protect innovation and creativity, both at home and abroad. Our competitors and adversaries recognize this fact. China, for example, has been trying now for decades to unseat America as the world’s innovation superpower. To do so, the Chinese government and companies collaborate to acquire foreign technology and create domestic innovation industries. This isn’t a surprise, as IP drives economic growth. The USPTO [U.S. Patent and Trademark Office] reported that in 2019, IP-intensive industries — things like computer technology, pharmaceuticals, entertainment — accounted for nearly 50 million American jobs and $7.8 trillion in economic value, representing 40% of our GDP. 

Innovation is a key driver for our competitiveness and our national security. China’s focus on IP raises national security concerns and questions about how China is manipulating rules-based international systems to its own advantage. We’ll explore those concerns and questions today with our panel of witnesses. China has pursued innovation and economic supremacy in part by using illegal means. Brazen trade secret theft and economic espionage by China are well-documented. According to the Department of Justice, approximately 80% of economic espionage cases and prosecutions involve trade secret theft by the Chinese government or its agents.

Trade secret theft has touched my own state of Delaware. Our oldest or perhaps best-known company, DuPont, had a Chinese national steal trade secrets protecting their innovative titanium dioxide production technology and sell the secrets to a Chinese state-owned company for $30 million.

We also need to be concerned about the threats posed by counterfeit goods, often sourced from abroad. In 2021, four-fifths of all counterfeit goods entering the United States originated in China. Although we seized $3 billion of counterfeit goods at the border last year, this amounts to a small fraction of the total. These counterfeit products can be unsafe and harm consumers. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Trademark Caucus, alongside Senator [Chuck] Grassley [R-Iowa], I know just how challenging and dangerous counterfeits can be. For example, prescription drugs that are counterfeit may not contain the active ingredient or, even worse, can contain deadly elements like fentanyl. Fake airplane parts widely found in service centers around the world can increase the chances that a plane malfunctions or crashes.

Beyond illegal means, China has increasingly used legal processes to unseat America as the world’s economic and innovation leader. Although these means haven’t received as much media attention as illegal activities, they’re equally as harmful and more difficult to combat. China has manipulated standard-setting boards and flooded the USPTO with trademark and patent applications to slow down all of its work.

The threats to our economic leadership and our innovation ecosystem aren’t just from China. Other countries, like India, have also been inconsistent in their IP protection and enforcement, for example. At the same time, emerging weaknesses in our own IP system have made it more difficult for rights holders to assert their rights, protect themselves, and safeguard their IP from either domestic or foreign threats.

Patents are today easier to challenge in PTAB [Patent Trial and Appeal Board] trials than in district courts. Patent owners who prevail in litigation can no longer rely on securing permanent injunctions to prevent ongoing infringement. I also remain concerned about unresolved issues around the scope of eligible subject matter or patentability. More than a decade after the Supreme Court waded into patent eligibility law, confusion reigns about what areas of innovation are still eligible for patent protection. Critical technologies like medical diagnostics and software have been excluded from protection here, but qualify for patent protection in Europe and China.

These and many other challenges have led to the slipping stature of our IP system on the global stage and jeopardize long-term investments in research. I worry that China and other adversaries and competitors will exploit our system for their advantage. So, I’ve worked hard on a variety of bills, bipartisan legislative proposals, to address these concerns, and I will reference them today and look forward to exploring them with my Ranking Member and other members of this subcommittee. With Senator Tillis’ cooperation — bless you, Senator — we’ve assembled a great panel with a diversity of views and perspectives to grapple with these and other issues. I’ll introduce them shortly, but will now turn over to Senator Tillis for his opening statements.

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Senators Coons, Braun reestablish Senate ALS Caucus

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) reestablished the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus and announced the addition of three new members, bringing total membership to 22 senators.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that destroys the body’s ability to control muscle movement. There is no effective treatment for the disease, no known cause, and currently no cure. The bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus brings together senators from both sides of the aisle who share a commitment to working collaboratively to advocate on behalf of ALS patients and their families. The mission of the Senate ALS Caucus is to:

• Raise awareness about the difficulties faced by ALS patients and their families;
• Advance policies that improve the quality of life for ALS patients;
• Expand the network of support for those suffering from ALS; and
• Advocate for investments in research that will enhance our understanding of the causes of ALS, identify effective treatments, and eventually discover a cure.

New members of the caucus are Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Other members, in addition to Co-Chairs Chris Coons and Mike Braun, are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

“The bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus is committed to bringing special awareness to the work needed to end this disease that has caused so much anguish for countless Americans and their families,”said Senator Coons, Co-Chair of the Senate ALS Caucus. “I’m glad to announce that three new members have joined the Senate ALS Caucus in demonstration of the growing bipartisan effort to support research, explore new treatment options, and find a cure for ALS. I look forward to more progress in the months and years ahead.”

“I am happy to join Senator Coons in announcing three new members to the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus,” said Senator Braun, Co-Chair of the Senate ALS Caucus. “I look forward to working with members new and old to find real solutions in aiding individuals suffering with ALS.”

“The ALS Association urges our elected officials to address the needs of people living with ALS and their loved ones. We thank the legislative champions on the Senate ALS Caucus who empower people living with ALS to live their lives to the fullest,” says Melanie Lendnal, Senior Vice President of Advocacy, the ALS Association. “Working together with senators on the ALS Caucus, we will find new policy solutions to make ALS a livable disease.”

“I AM ALS is grateful to Senators Coons and Braun for reintroducing the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus in the 118th Congress. This caucus has been an intricate part of the bipartisan efforts to strengthen the health care system and research efforts for people living with ALS. With their relentless leadership and the important work by the caucus, we are beginning to see amazing progress and ALS is no longer hopeless. Since the formation of the caucus, it has taken a disease that was often an afterthought and made it a priority to turn this 100% fatal disease into a chronic one. In particular, the caucus has led the effort to increase research funding, passed a bill to eliminate the five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits, and passed the historic ACT for ALS. As a result of its efforts, the 90% of people living with ALS that do not qualify for clinical trials have access to safe, promising treatments today and we are able to conduct critical research on this population to understand the efficacy of a drug at different stages of ALS, as well as to understand more about the biology of ALS,” said Brian Wallach, Co-Founder, I AM ALS. “We are now incredibly hopeful about the future because of the efforts of the caucus. I AM ALS looks forward to the partnership with the caucus and all of Congress to expedite policies that will help develop effective treatments and, hopefully soon, cures for ALS.”

Senator Coons statement on fighting in Sudan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement today in the wake of fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces:

 “I strongly condemn the ongoing violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and urge all sides to ensure the safety of civilians and refrain from attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure. This fighting, which has already resulted in more than 180 civilian deaths and scores of injuries, must end immediately. The violence has forced over a dozen hospitals to shut down, and attacks on aid workers have led to a suspension of life-saving humanitarian operations. Critical infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, and many residents of the country’s capital are without electricity and water. Civilians across the country have been terrorized by the fighting, and reports of looting and assaults are on the rise.

 “Ultimately, the only way to achieve peace and stability in Sudan is through meaningful political discussion and the return of a civilian-led transition that respects the rights and aspirations of the Sudanese people. Continued fighting risks dragging the country back into civil war and threatens the stability not only of Sudan, but the entire region.

 “I urge General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces and de facto president of Sudan, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the Rapid Support Forces, to immediately cease fighting, return to dialogue, and honor the wishes of the Sudanese people, who want nothing more than a democratic government and a peaceful and stable country.”

Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester celebrate completion of first phase of affordable housing initiative in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Governor John Carney (all D-Del.) attended a ceremony marking the completion of Phase I of the Solomon’s Court affordable housing initiative alongside Be Ready Community Development Corporation leaders, community partners, and others.

A ribbon-cutting unveiled six new affordable housing units – four one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units – in the 1500 block of West Fourth Street, a $3.5 million, 1,600-square-foot project. The universally designed units will provide dignified housing options in a traditionally underserved community. 

Phase II, an expansion of an additional 12 units, is expected to begin shortly. Two-million dollars of the $7.5 million total needed for the second phase will be funded through a congressionally directed spending grant. In addition to housing, these mixed-use buildings will also provide retail space on the ground floor for small businesses. In total, Phase II will add 4,000 square feet of space, bringing available space at Solomon’s Court to 5,600 square feet.

“The opening of Solomon’s Court, made possible thanks to the support of so many individuals and organizations from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors, is helping us build up the Hilltop community, bringing affordable housing options for families and creating commercial space where businesses can grow. Quality housing that families can afford is a vital condition that all individuals and communities need to thrive, as well as meaningful work and wealth, which will all be supported by Solomon’s Court,” said Pastor Margaret Moon-Taylor, Executive Director, Be Ready Community Development Corporation.

 “Every human being deserves the dignity of a roof over their head,” said Senator Chris Coons. “Whenever possible in my position as an appropriator, I prioritize ensuring federal funding makes its way to projects like this, so more individuals are able to find a place to call home. I’m delighted to see the progress on Solomon’s Court so far, and I can’t wait to see it filled with families and Delaware businesses once Phase II is complete.”

 “I am proud our congressional delegation is able to provide much-needed funding to support safe and affordable housing in Wilmington,” said Senator Tom Carper. “Throughout the state, federal funding has opened doors to safe renting and homeownership, and we will continue to look for ways to improve the lives of families in the First State.”

 “Access to readily available and affordable housing units is critical to supporting Delawareans’ personal and economic potential,” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. “I’m thrilled to have worked alongside Senator Carper and Senator Coons to get this funding across the finish line for Solomon’s Court to embark on Phase II of its affordable housing initiative. Today’s announcement is a true testament to the dedication of all the partners – from public and private to government and nonprofit – to continually invest in closing the affordable housing gap in our state.”

 “The opening of Solomon’s Court is an important step towards revitalizing the Hilltop community,” said Governor John Carney. “Along with investments in infrastructure, education, and community development, we are making a commitment to the City of Wilmington. I want to thank Senator Carper, Senator Coons, Representative Blunt Rochester, Mayor Purzycki, Be Ready Community Development Corporation, and all of our partners for helping make this investment.”

 “Being a resident of the third district born, raised, and bred, and walking past, and seeing what this was previously, these were drug homes, and now to see that Pastor Lottie’s vision has turned into something that’s transforming our community with the help of Pastor Margaret and Elder Wayne, our congressional delegation, the state, and the city, this is a great example of government working together with the community to transform lives, and I’m grateful to be a part of it,” said State Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker.

 “This project is a beautiful testament to the vision of Pastor Lottie Lee Davis, who refused to be discouraged by hurdles placed in front of the things she knew were needed for the community she served,” said Mayor Mike Purzycki. “The City of Wilmington is grateful to everyone who carried out her legacy of supporting affordable housing, small business opportunities, and a stronger city for all. The support of the congressional delegation for this project is very much appreciated.”

 “Delaware State Housing Authority is proud to partner on this historic permanent supportive housing project,” said Eugene R. Young Jr., Director, Delaware State Housing Authority. “We commend Pastor Moon and the Be Ready Community Development Corporation board for their leadership in bringing Solomon’s Court Phase I to life and look forward to continuing this momentum for Phase II.”

 “I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate the opening of the first phase of Solomon’s Court,” said Winthrop Watson, President and CEO, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank Pittsburgh). “Together with our member, WSFS Bank, we were able to provide early financial support to this project. Many community partners and funders have joined on to back this project, which has resulted in quality affordable homes that are so important to this area. I personally want to thank the Delaware congressional delegation for their continued partnership that allows FHLBank Pittsburgh and our members to provide this support to our communities.”

 Officials anticipate Phase II will be completed in mid-to-late 2024. For photos from Monday’s event, click here.

Senator Coons statement on the passing of Will Minster

WILMINGTON, Del. — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the passing of Will Minster:

“It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Will Minster. A pillar of Wilmington and a champion for every entrepreneurial endeavor, Will was one-of-a-kind. He loved this city and believed in everyone in it. He saw downtown for what it could be, long before it became the success story it is today. The roots of his family here are deep, stretching back generations, and I had the chance to meet his mother Marilyn at her Newark jewelry store location, a family-owned landmark for 123 years. They were part of a wonderful family of small-business-minded people who saw how hard work could lift up their community.

“Annie and I send our deepest condolences to his family.”

Senator Coons, Judiciary Democrats urge Supreme Court to address ethics concerns and adopt code of conduct

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on a letter to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts calling on the Chief Justice to adopt the Judicial Conference’s Code of Conduct and investigate a ProPublica report that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted and failed to disclose 20 years’ worth of lavish gifts and luxury travel from prominent Republican donor Harlan Crow.

The Senators also announced in the letter that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court’s ethical standards. The letter notes that Judiciary Committee Democrats previously wrote Chief Justice Roberts in 2012 urging the Court to adopt a resolution binding the Justices to the same Code of Conduct that binds all other federal judges, but Chief Justice Roberts refused. The letter notes that Chief Justice Roberts does not need to wait for Congress to act to ensure that the Justices abide by ethical standards that bind other federal judges, but said that if the Chief Justice fails to address the matter, the committee will take up legislation to resolve it. 

The Senators wrote, “The Senate Judiciary Committee, which has legislative jurisdiction over federal courts and judges, has a role to play in ensuring that the nation’s highest court does not have the federal judiciary’s lowest ethical standards. You have a role to play as well, both in investigating how such conduct could take place at the Court under your watch, and in ensuring that such conduct does not happen again. We urge you to immediately open such an investigation and take all needed action to prevent further misconduct.”

“Now the Court faces a crisis of public confidence in its ethical standards that must be addressed,” the Senators continued. “In the coming days, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing regarding the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court’s ethical standards. And if the Court does not resolve this issue on its own, the Committee will consider legislation to resolve it. But you do not need to wait for Congress to act to undertake your own investigation into the reported conduct and to ensure that it cannot happen again.”

In addition to Senator Coons and Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). 

Last Congress, Senator Coons introduced and led the successful passage of the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, which requires online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges and mandates that they submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions.

Full text of the letter is available here and below: 

April 10, 2023

Dear Chief Justice Roberts:

We write regarding the April 6, 2023 report by ProPublica entitled “Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire.” The report describes conduct by a sitting Justice that he did not disclose to the public and that is plainly inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any person in a position of public trust. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee, which has legislative jurisdiction over Federal courts and judges, has a role to play in ensuring that the nation’s highest court does not have the federal judiciary’s lowest ethical standards. You have a role to play as well, both in investigating how such conduct could take place at the Court under your watch, and in ensuring that such conduct does not happen again. We urge you to immediately open such an investigation and take all needed action to prevent further misconduct.

This is not the first time that members of this Committee have written you regarding concerns over the Supreme Court’s ethical standards. Eleven years ago, several members of the Committee, including the current Chair, sent you the attached letter urging the Court to adopt a resolution stating that the Justices of the Court abide by the Judicial Conference’s Code of Conduct for United States Judges — a Code that binds every other judge in the federal judiciary. You responded that the Court “does not plan to adopt the Code of Conduct for United States Judges through a formal resolution,” and referenced your 2011 Year-End Report, in which you said “the Court has had no reason to adopt the Code of Conduct as its definitive source of ethical guidance.” We submit that the Court has compelling reasons to do so, and urge prompt adoption of the Code of Conduct. While last month’s revision to the Judicial Conference’s guidance on judicial financial disclosures was a modest step in the right direction, further action is needed.

Notably, on October 5, 2011, Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer testified before the Judiciary Committee and engaged in a discussion with Committee members about the Court’s ethical standards. In its reporting on that hearing, the New York Times noted that “[t]he ethical conduct of the Supreme Court has been under growing scrutiny” and that “[q]uestions have been raised over Justice Clarence Thomas’s appearances before Republican-backed groups and his acceptance of favors from a contributor in Texas, Harlan Crow” (emphasis added). 

It is troubling that your 2011 year-end report, which dismissed the call for the Justices to adopt the Code of Conduct, was written notwithstanding the known concerns about Mr. Crow’s largesse. This problem could have been resolved then. Instead, according to ProPublica’s reporting, Mr. Crow’s dispensation of favors escalated in secret during the years that followed. Now the Court faces a crisis of public confidence in its ethical standards that must be addressed. 

In the coming days, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing regarding the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court’s ethical standards. And if the Court does not resolve this issue on its own, the Committee will consider legislation to resolve it. But you do not need to wait for Congress to act to undertake your own investigation into the reported conduct and to ensure that it cannot happen again. We urge you to do so.  

Thank you for your attention to this matter of critical importance.

Senators Coons, Menendez, Collins introduce resolution reaffirming support for the Good Friday Agreement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and other Senate colleagues have introduced a resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed on April 10, 1998. In addition to celebrating the historic compromise that marked the beginning of a new era of peaceful political engagement in Northern Ireland, the bipartisan resolution also affirms support for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements and arrangements – including the Windsor Framework – to advance peace on the island of Ireland. 

“The 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement have marked a new era in peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the entire British Isles,” said Senator Coons. “I am proud to join colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to commemorate this historic agreement, and reaffirm our support for continued stability across Northern Ireland.”

“The historic Good Friday Agreement critically ushered in a new era of reflection and sustainable peace across the island of Ireland. Yet, even on this momentous anniversary, we must remain mindful that the work of the agreement continues,” said Senator Menendez. “I continue to support our partners’ efforts to advance stability and prosperity, including through the full implementation of the Windsor Framework and Stormont House Agreement, and look forward to working together to advance accountability and reconciliation for all who live in Northern Ireland.”

“The inclusive power-sharing system established by the Good Friday Agreement was a landmark achievement that established a framework for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Former Maine Senator George Mitchell [D] was instrumental in the successful negotiation of this historic agreement that brought stability to the British Isles,” said Senator Collins. “Over the past 25 years, political leaders in Northern Ireland, along with the British and Irish governments, have made enormous progress, though important issues remain unresolved. Our resolution encourages all parties to continue to work toward the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as well as subsequent agreements that promote peace and stability on the island of Ireland.”

The bipartisan resolution, introduced in the Senate last month, also urges continued attention and action to resolve injustices of past violence, reaffirms support for the right of all people on the island to self-determination, and encourages renewed efforts to preserve the rich language, literature, and arts of Northern Ireland. The resolution additionally underscores the great value the United States places on its relationship with both the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the United States’ steadfast support for the peaceful resolution of any and all political challenges in Northern Ireland.

Joining Senators Coons, Menendez, and Collins in introducing the resolution were Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Find a copy of the resolution here.

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Senators Coons, Risch call for the release of Ekpar Asat

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) released the following statement on the seventh anniversary of Ekpar Asat’s detention by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP):

“Seven years ago, Ekpar Asat went missing in Xinjiang – detained by the CCP for his Uyghur identity. Ekpar is a son, brother, entrepreneur, and recipient of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

“The Chinese government should release Ekpar immediately. At minimum, the CCP should move him to Urumqi, allow him contact with his family and legal counsel, and ensure he has proper health care. We will continue advocating for Ekpar and his family.”

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