Senators Coons and Portman statement on congressional delegation to Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) issued the following statement today after traveling to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, and other Ukrainian officials. The Senators also toured the headquarters of Ukrainian energy company Ukrenergo, which was damaged in an attack by Russian forces.

“We are here today to underscore the broad support that continues to exist in Congress for the Ukrainian people,” said the Senators. “We met with President Zelenskyy to discuss Ukraine’s needs as it continues to defend itself against this brutal Russian invasion and to show American solidarity with the Ukrainian people. President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the American people for the critical security, economic, and humanitarian assistance we continue to provide, and we saw how this assistance saves lives when we toured a World Food Programme food distribution center. 

“We also visited the headquarters of Ukrenergo, one example of the Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the largest campaign against civilian energy infrastructure in human history. Russian attacks continue to damage the Ukrainian economy and put the lives of millions of Ukrainian civilians at risk as winter approaches. It is one more piece in the series of atrocities Russia has committed during this illegal war. 

“We saw firsthand the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people in the face of these atrocities, and they deserve our support. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Kostin is working to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime accountable, and we discussed efforts in Ukraine, the United States, and at the International Criminal Court to prosecute Russian officials for war crimes. The international community must join Ukraine in this effort.”

Senator Coons is Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Portman is Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

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ICYMI: On Fox News Sunday, Senator Coons highlights Democrats’ accomplishments: “We’ve got a real record to run on”

WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) highlighted congressional Democrats’ record of accomplishments on Fox News Sunday yesterday, pointing to bipartisan legislation that invests in our infrastructure and supports advanced manufacturing jobs, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act, which will reduce health care costs for many Americans. He also highlighted the concrete steps Democrats have taken in Congress to reduce crime nationwide. You can watch the whole interview here.

Senator Chris Coons: We’ve got real accomplishments to point to. You didn’t hear a detailed plan for how Republicans would fight inflation, would bring gas prices down, would make our country stronger, but we’ve got a record both of President Biden passing significant bipartisan legislation on issues President Trump said he would deal with, like investing in infrastructure, like bringing advanced manufacturing for chips back to the United States, where the President signed bills into law that were bipartisan. We also have bills that only Democrats voted for, our Inflation Reduction Act, which is going to cap out-of-pocket costs, cap the price of insulin, and reduce prescription drug prices. That is one of the things that Americans say day in and day out, and I’ve said for years, is one of the pressing costs they’re concerned about. Democrats have taken action and addressed it. Last, the American Rescue Plan, that only Democrats voted for, provided funding to put teachers back in classrooms, to put cops back on the street. We’ve got a real record to run on.

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Senator Chris Coons: Joe Biden has a strong record on crime as President. He said in the State of the Union: I don’t support defund the police, I support funding the police, and then acted on it. The American Rescue Plan specifically provided funding for state and local governments to keep law enforcement officers on the beat, and his plan for this year provides more money to hire more cops – 100,000 more police officers. Here in Delaware, we have three police agencies that just got a federal grant, as have hundreds of others across the country to hire more officers.

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Senator Chris Coons: I do know that there are folks in my party really concerned about the mechanics of elections about folks running for office, in states like Arizona and Nevada, who deny that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential and who are running saying that they won’t accept the results of an election with which they disagree. I think all of us in the wake of this attack on Paul Pelosi need to say that we are going to stop demonizing folks, because I think those kinds of the sort of rhetoric that we’ve heard in too many ways, in too many places, can lead to violence by a small number of Americans who think that when we describe our political opponents as our enemies, we’re calling for them to be attacked. After the threat against Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh, I worked with Senator Cornyn across the aisle to get signed into law a bill to expand police protection of Supreme Court justices and their families. President Biden and Democrats have stood behind law enforcement and strengthening protections for those in public life.

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Statement from Sen. Coons on Passing of Loretta Walsh

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement today on the passing of longtime Wilmington political leader and former City Councilwoman Loretta Walsh:

“Loretta Walsh had an incredible heart for service. She never stopped caring for others, giving to others, fighting for others. With decades of service on the City Council and years as the chair of Finance, she kept fighting for the people of Wilmington. 

“Annie and I met Loretta in the 80s, and I truly got to know her in the 90s. Over the next thirty years, my wife and I admired and, like so many others, were blessed to benefit from her friendship, her advice, and her big heart. In politics and in the community, what a leader she was—and what a friend.”

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Senators Coons, Blunt lead bipartisan and bicameral call to include Victims of Child Abuse Act in NDAA

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, sent a letter to Senate and House leadership as well as the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, urging them to include their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA) as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA). The law, first enacted in 1990, provides the only dedicated source of funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers, which bring together teams of law enforcement, medical personnel, and service providers to ensure the best outcome for child victims and help hold perpetrators responsible for their crimes. VOCAA programs are set to expire next year unless Congress reauthorizes them.

“Including the bipartisan Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act in this year’s NDAA will ensure that Children’s Advocacy Centers receive critical funding and can remain open to support children and families,” said Senator Coons. “The inclusion of this legislation in the FY23 NDAA will assist communities across the country by bringing together law enforcement, medical personnel, and social services to help protect survivors and bring perpetrators to justice. I was delighted to see the House include our legislation in their version of the NDAA, and I urge Senate and House leadership to include the Victims of Child Abuse Reauthorization Act in the final version of the FY23 NDAA to help keep kids and families in Delaware and across the nation safe.”

“Last year, Children’s Advocacy Centers served nearly 10,000 of Missouri’s most vulnerable children, helping to keep kids safe and bring perpetrators to justice,”said Senator Blunt. “Including the reauthorization of this critical legislation in the final NDAA will help ensure Children’s Advocacy Centers and law enforcement continue to have the tools they need to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases.”

Children’s Advocacy Centers provide a skilled team of trained professionals to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been victims of abuse. Such interviews are intended to be used as evidence in court while also preventing children from having to relive their abuse and repeat their accounts multiple times. Children’s Advocacy Centers allow for faster criminal charging decisions in sexual abuse cases, increased felony prosecutions of child sexual abuse, and lower average case costs.

In addition to Senators Coons and Blunt, cosponsors of the Senate bill introduced in March include Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.). 

The bill has garnered widespread support from law enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police, National District Attorneys Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs of America, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and Sergeants Benevolent Association.

A copy of the letter is attached here.

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Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Remind Delawareans to Apply for Student Debt Relief

DOVER, Del. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) will join President Joe Biden at Delaware State University to get the word out about the administration’s debt relief program for federal student loans. Borrowers can apply for relief through an online portal which provides up to $10,000 in relief to borrowers with federal student loans and up to $20,000 in relief to borrowers who were Pell Grant recipients. Those earning less than $125,000 as an individual or $250,000 as a household are eligible. The Administration also extended the pause on federal student loan repayments one final time through December 31, 2022.

“When I travel around Delaware, one of the top issues for Delawareans of all ages is student loans and the enormous financial burden they face,” said Senator Carper. “Applying for federal student debt relief through the online portal takes less than five minutes, and I encourage every eligible Delawarean to apply today.”

“Today, Delaware will hear how President Biden followed through on his campaign promise to grant student debt relief to those who need it most and is continuing to work to make an affordable education attainable,” said Senator Coons. “I hope his visit will encourage even more Delawareans who may be eligible for student debt relief under President Biden’s plan to follow in the footsteps of the 12 million Americans who have already applied through the online portal. If you and your friends may be eligible, don’t delay — apply today at studentaid.gov.”

“When President Biden announced the Student Loan Forgiveness Program, he made a commitment to help the millions of Americans burdened by crippling student debt as they’ve looked to make a better life for themselves and their families. And in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, that commitment and the relief it will provide couldn’t be more important,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “Eligible Delawareans can now apply for federal Student Loan Forgiveness online through the new portal in minutes. It’s easy, user-friendly, and will bring relief to borrowers here in Delaware and across the country.”

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President Biden signs Senator Coons’ global malnutrition act into law

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) and ranking member Michael McCaul (R-Texas) issued the following statement after President Biden signed the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act into law today:

“We are proud to see that the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act has been signed into law. This new law will advance life-saving and low-cost nutrition programs to urgently address alarming rates of malnutrition globally. Today, more than 345 million people are facing acute food insecurity around the world and a famine declaration is looming in the Horn of Africa. Prioritizing effective nutrition activities and making them a core part of our existing humanitarian and development programs will strengthen the health, development, and productivity of the next generation of children and families around the world.”                                                                                                         

As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Coons led his bipartisan bill through the Senate with Senators Wicker (R-Miss.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) to bolster federal efforts and increase coordination to address global malnutrition. The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act will authorize the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to scale up programs and activities to prevent and treat malnutrition globally and establish the Nutrition Leadership Council with representatives from relevant agencies to coordinate USAID’s efforts.

Click here to learn more about the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act.

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[PHOTOS]: Senator Coons visits Delaware small business JennyGems

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) visited JennyGems, a 30-person company owned by Jennifer “Jenny” McMillan and the Small Business Administration’s Delaware Woman-Owned Business of 2022. Senator Coons visited her factory, met her employees, and learned about how the company has grown in spite of the pandemic. JennyGems makes small signs and decorative items for homes and offices, and is headquartered in Delaware.

Senator Coons was joined in the visit by John Fleming and Michelle Harris from the Small Business Administration.

Click here for photos from the visit.

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Senator Coons applauds VA’s announcement of benefits expansion for spouses of LGBTQ+ veterans

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement today applauding the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) decision to close the gap in benefits for certain same-sex veteran spouses and ensure they have access to the full and complete spousal benefits they are owed:

“Every single service member and military family makes massive sacrifices on behalf of our nation, and all of them deserve the benefits they are entitled to — no matter whom they love,” said Senator Coons. “The VA’s decision to eliminate the discriminatory obstacle for survivor benefits for spouses and families who have already been through so much comes not a moment too soon, but our work is not done. I will continue to work until all of our veterans in the LGBTQ+ community and their spouses receive the same benefits as the other soldiers and sailors they served alongside.” 

The VA’s decision comes after Senator Coons joined Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and 39 other Democratic colleagues in urging VA Secretary Denis McDonough to address discriminatory VA practices preventing surviving loved ones from getting complete access to VA benefits they deserve.

In addition to writing to the VA about this issue, Senator Coons joined a letter with Senators Murray and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service Charles Rettig that called on the Biden administration to revise current guidance that has led to members of the LGBTQ+ community being denied pension survivor benefits after losing life partners. That request is still under review.

The full text of the letter to Secretary McDonough can be found here.

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Coons, Manchin, Tillis, Van Hollen reintroduce bipartisan Fair Hiring in Banking Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) reintroduced the bipartisan Fair Hiring in Banking Act to reduce hiring barriers across the financial services sector. The legislation will ensure otherwise highly qualified individuals with minor arrest or conviction records are not prohibited from working in the financial services industry, and expands the Fair Hiring in Banking Act previously introduced by including credit unions. 

“Americans with minor arrest records or previous convictions often face enormous barriers to reentering the workforce, holding them and their families back and depriving employers of potential talent,” said Senator Coons. “The Fair Hiring in Banking Act gives deserving Americans a second chance to find good-paying jobs in a robust industry while ensuring that Delaware’s banking sector can hire and support high-quality workers. I look forward to working with Senator Manchin and our colleagues in Congress to advance this bill into law.”

“The drug epidemic continues to ravage West Virginia, and many West Virginians have criminal records related to this epidemic. Even for highly qualified individuals, criminal records make it difficult to be hired for good-paying, long-term jobs, complicating their efforts to reintegrate themselves into society. I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues to reintroduce the Fair Hiring in Banking Act to reduce hiring barriers in the financial services sector, including for credit unions, and help those who have served their time become contributing members of their community,” said Senator Manchin. “I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important legislation and I will continue my bipartisan efforts to get our bill signed into law.”

“Countless Americans face difficulties reintegrating into the workforce and broader society after minor criminal offenses,” said Senator Tillis. “This bipartisan legislation makes commonsense reforms to promote good-paying employment opportunities in the financial services industry for those seeking a second chance.”

“Blocking Americans from good-paying jobs after they’ve served their time or received treatment only makes it more difficult for them to re-enter their communities and support themselves and their families. This bipartisan legislation will help eliminate barriers for those with minor records that prevent highly qualified workers from obtaining jobs – and help ensure Marylanders receive the second chance they deserve to succeed,” said Senator Van Hollen.

The bipartisan Fair Hiring in Banking Act will replace the lifetime ban on working in the financial services sector with a seven-year waiting period for individuals with minor criminal records. Additionally, it will create an exception for acts committed before age 21 and at least 30 months prior to employment and clarify that an individual with a criminal record that is expunged, sealed, or pardoned will no longer need to seek a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) waiver before securing employment.

“This legislation would expand employment opportunities and provide a second chance to individuals looking to move past minor criminal offenses that can too often be a barrier. Recruiting employees and retaining talent is an important priority, particularly for credit unions continuously in search of employees committed to the credit union difference,” said Jim Nussle, President and CEO of the Credit Union National Association. “Thank you to Senators Manchin, Tillis, Coons, and Van Hollen for their bipartisan leadership on this issue.”

“It’s a win-win for the country and for banks when rehabilitated people can achieve good-paying banking jobs that give them a second chance for economic advancement. We support this bill, which would clear the path to banking employment for people with minor records. Thanks to Senators Manchin, Tillis, Coons, and Van Hollen for prioritizing this important issue,” said Greg Baer, President and CEO of the Bank Policy Institute.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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ICYMI: Eater: 14-year bipartisan barbecue lunch tradition continues under Senator Coons

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, food publication Eater on Friday featured the Senate Bipartisan Barbecue Lunch, hosted by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) as well as Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). A friend of the late Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who started the annual lunch, Senator Coons continues the tradition to remember Senator Isakson and build relationships across party lines as senators of both parties put their differences aside over ribs and brisket.

Eater: How 560 Pounds of Barbecue Unites Across-the-Aisle Senators Once a Year

One afternoon last week on Capitol Hill, a steady stream of the nation’s top elected officials paraded into the same marble-lined room atop the Russell Senate Office Building. It wasn’t for any sort of vote or debate, but rather to dig into good old-fashioned barbecue personally prepared by award-winning Georgia pitmasters.

The 12th annual bipartisan luncheon, held Thursday, September 29, was particularly poignant for its co-organizer Sen. Chris Coons. He was close friends with its founder, Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who retired his seat in 2019 and passed away last December after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“Johnny was a remarkable bridge-builder between caucuses that had a hard time hearing each other all the time,” Coons tells Eater. “He fought fiercely for his state but routinely put his country over his party.”

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Sticking to tradition, Coons says he carried on Isakson’s sole rule of the annual bipartisan buffet: “Come in, get a plate, and sit next to someone you don’t know or ever talk to. That is your price of admission.”

The full article is available here.

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