Sen. Coons statement after meeting with Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement after meeting with Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry.

“Today I had a productive meeting with Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry where we discussed the importance of honoring our global commitments to reduce emissions and tackle the existential threat of climate change. Special Presidential Envoy Kerry has played a critical role in reasserting American leadership and working with our international partners to take climate action – now Congress must do our part. As we heard from President Biden this week at the State of the Union address, the climate crisis is a priority for the White House in the fight to create a cleaner future and reduce costs for families, and I look forward to working with Special Presidential Envoy Kerry to advance solutions to enact that vision.”

Sens. Coons, Portman introduce bill to support US consumers, workers, businesses in strengthened international trading system

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Trading System Preservation (TSP) Act, which will enable the United States to negotiate new trade agreements and advance the interests of U.S. businesses and workers within the World Trade Organization (WTO) system. The TSP Act would direct the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to negotiate trade agreements with like-minded partners in certain sectors of the economy and would help reinvigorate the WTO, which has been hamstrung for years by a small handful of Members obstructing negotiations. These sector-specific agreements would not be subject to Most Favored Nation (MFN) requirements. Generally, MFN requires a country to give all its trading partners market access that is the same as the access the country gives to its most favored trading partner.

“Trade supports good jobs in Delaware, and negotiating forward-looking trade agreements will strengthen our economy and bring down costs for American consumers,” said Senator Coons. “Our bipartisan bill will allow us to lead ambitious negotiations with like-minded allies and partners, and to set the rules of the road for key sectors like digital services, pharmaceuticals, and environmental goods. I look forward to working with Senator Portman and our colleagues in Congress to advance this bill into law.”

“The World Trade Organization has a lot of value to the United States, but it’s disappointing that at the WTO the United States has lost its ability to negotiate,” said Senator, and former U.S. Trade Representative, Portman. “My proposal gives USTR the authority it needs to negotiate new agreements, and by limiting those agreements to a subset of WTO members it means we can actually make progress on the development of new rules to combat non-market practices, and open new markets to U.S. exporters, without being stymied by a veto from countries which do not share the same interest in upholding a rules-based trading system.”

While the WTO was created to be the primary forum for international trade negotiations, a small number of countries have abused the WTO’s rules to hamper trade negotiations and veto new agreements. Non-market economies such as China have prevented agreement on new, high-standard trade rules that would discipline their anti-competitive practices. Meanwhile, the WTO’s MFN requirements have made it challenging for more ambitious WTO Members to conclude plurilateral agreements among smaller groups of countries.

The TSP Act would address problems within the current multilateral trading system that have made it difficult for the United States and its partners to advance next-generation trade agreements by empowering the United States to negotiate agreements within the WTO with willing partners in certain sectors of the economy, like environmental goods, services, or digital trade. To incentivize countries to come to the table to negotiate in good faith, these agreements would not be subject to Most Favored Nation (MFN) requirements.

The text of the bill is available here.

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Sens. Carper, Coons urge Biden administration to designate Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) and 41 of their Senate colleagues wrote a letter to President Biden urging the administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the United States following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.  

“In light of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, we respectfully request that your Administration promptly take all necessary steps to ensure that Ukrainian nationals present in the United States are not forced to return to Ukraine, including the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS),” the senators wrote. “As you know, TPS can be granted to nationals of another country who are currently residing in the United States if returning to their country would pose a serious threat to their personal safety because of ongoing armed conflict, the temporary effects of an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. TPS allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain in the United States legally until the expiration of the TPS designation.”

On February 24, Ukraine declared a state of emergency and closed its airspace to commercial flights after Russia launched a series of unprovoked military strikes against major Ukrainian cities with forces attacking by land, sea, and air. Russian forces have employed hundreds of missiles against military and civilian targets across Ukraine in clear violation of international law, and troops continue to push to overtake major cities, including Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported that at least 353 civilians have been killed so far since the Russian invasion began. The United States has closed its embassy in Kyiv and all embassy personnel and their family members have left Ukraine in recent weeks.

Established by the U.S. Congress through the Immigration Act of 1990, TPS is a temporary, renewable program that provides relief from deportation and access to a work permit for foreign nationals from certain countries who are unable to return safely to their home country due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions. The decision to deny, withdraw, or terminate TPS is in the sole discretion of the U.S. government.

The senators’ letter continues, “Granting TPS to the limited population of Ukrainians who are currently in the U.S. on a temporary basis will create a minimal disruption for our country, but forcing these individuals to return to a war zone would be unacceptable. Forcing Ukrainian nationals to return to Ukraine in the midst of a war would be inconsistent with America’s values and our national security interests. As a nation, we must do our part to protect the safety of Ukrainians in the United States by designating Ukraine for TPS.”

According to the Department of State, 29,510 nonimmigrant visas were issued to Ukrainian nationals in Fiscal Year 2020.

In addition to Carper and Coons, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear President Biden:

In light of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, we respectfully request that your Administration promptly take all necessary steps to ensure that Ukrainian nationals present in the United States are not forced to return to Ukraine, including the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

As you know, TPS can be granted to nationals of another country who are currently residing in the United States if returning to their country would pose a serious threat to their personal safety because of ongoing armed conflict, the temporary effects of an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. TPS allows eligible nationals of designated countries to remain in the United States legally until the expiration of the TPS designation.

Ukraine clearly meets the standard for TPS as it is obviously too dangerous for Ukrainian nationals to return to Ukraine due to the ongoing armed conflict. On February 24, Ukraine declared a state of emergency and closed its airspace to commercial flights after Russia launched a series of military strikes against major Ukrainian cities with forces attacking by land, sea, and air. Russian forces have employed hundreds of missiles against military and civilian targets across Ukraine in clear violation of international law, and troops continue to push to overtake major cities, including Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported that at least 353 civilians have been killed since the Russian invasion began, and a senior U.S. defense official has warned that Russia plans to decapitate the Ukrainian government. As you mentioned on February 23, “President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.”

Given the dire situation in Ukraine, the United States has closed its embassy in Kyiv and all embassy personnel and their family members have left Ukraine in recent weeks. The most recent State Department travel advisory warns against travel to Ukraine due to armed conflict. The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees noted that the UN is “gravely concerned about the fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine” and highlighted that people are fleeing their homes to seek safety.

It is important to note that designating Ukraine for TPS will not endanger our security. A noncitizen is ineligible for TPS if the individual has a criminal background or poses a threat to national security. The decision to deny, withdraw, or terminate TPS is in the sole discretion of the U.S. government.  TPS does not make a beneficiary eligible for lawful permanent resident status or U.S. citizenship. When the TPS designation of a country is terminated, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they maintained before the designation.

Only a limited number of individuals who are present in the United States will be eligible for TPS, including students, business travelers, and tourists – none of whom can currently return safely to Ukraine. According to the Department of State, 29,510 nonimmigrant visas were issued to Ukrainian nationals in Fiscal Year 2020, the most recent year for which data is available. Granting TPS to the limited population of Ukrainians who are currently in the U.S. on a temporary basis will create a minimal disruption for our country, but forcing these individuals to return to a war zone would be unacceptable.

Forcing Ukrainian nationals to return to Ukraine in the midst of a war would be inconsistent with America’s values and our national security interests. As a nation, we must do our part to protect the safety of Ukrainians in the United States by designating Ukraine for TPS.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your prompt reply.

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ICYMI Sen. Coons in Foreign Policy: Targeted sanctions can help restore democracy in Sudan

WASHINGTON — In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and The Sentry’s John Prendergast published an op-ed in Foreign Policy today discussing the future of Sudan as the Sudanese people continue to push for democracy in a nationwide movement. Senator Coons, Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, calls for the United States to invest in Sudanese organizations resisting military rule and impose modern, comprehensive sanctions against coup leaders like those contained in the Sudan Democracy Act that Senator Coons introduced last year to allow for Sudan’s democracy movement to grow.

Foreign Policy: Targeted Sanctions Can Help Restore Democracy in Sudan

By Senator Chris Coons and John Prendergast

The struggle is on for Sudan’s future, and the outcome of the current strife between the kleptocratic military and the resilient protest movement in the streets will have consequences far beyond the Horn of Africa for the United States, its allies, and its adversaries. Russia held talks in Moscow with senior Sudanese military officials as Russian troops were invading Ukraine, and is suspected of involvement in the military coup in Khartoum in October. Egypt and Persian Gulf countries are reluctant to risk short-term stability to support a democratic transition in their neighborhood. China wants a business partner.

Though Europe supports a democratic transition, it does not want hundreds of thousands of new migrants heading north; Sudanese regime leaders have suggested this will happen if the international community does not support the military-led government.

The Sudanese people, however, are not backing down in the defense of their political gains. Even in the face of persistent killings, sexual violence, and arrests by the regime, a massive, nationwide pro-democracy movement has for months maintained nonviolent street protests. The determination these thousands of people have shown as they risk their lives against heavily armed security forces should serve as a reminder the world over of how precious democracy truly is.

The full op-ed can be read here.

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Senator Coons Statement on Passing of Richard Blum

“Richard first and foremost was a man tirelessly supportive of his wife’s service, first to her city and then to her country, but I always admired his philanthropy and passion for development issues in the Himalayas and across Asia. The Blum Center for Developing Economies has pioneered the field of development engineering and secured over $650 million in additional funding to address global poverty through its ‘Big Ideas’ contest. Richard said he set out to create a ‘do tank,’ not a ‘think tank,’ and his success in doing so ensures that his legacy will far outlive him. May his memory be a blessing for Dianne and his three daughters.”

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[PHOTOS] Sen. Coons returns from foreign trip to Germany, Poland and Lithuania

This week, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, participated in congressional delegations to Germany, Poland, and Lithuania.

“I have just returned late yesterday from a weeklong trip to Europe. I was part of a large bipartisan delegation to the Munich Security Conference and then travelled onward to Poland and Lithuania,” said Senator Coons on a press call this morning. “The overall message I bring back from these trips and meetings is first, that NATO is stronger than it has ever been; that President Biden and his team have done an outstanding job of mobilizing the West to be prepared for this moment of aggression by Vladimir Putin. The outrage you are hearing from our partners and allies and their determination to impose swift and strong sanctions to make Russia, and in particular Putin and the circle of oligarchs who support him, pay the price for the loss of life that we are seeing unfold today in Kyiv and across Ukraine, is the result of determination.”

In Germany, Senator Coons participated in the Munich Security Conference and addressed arms control issues with Nobel Laureate Beatrice Fihn and Chatham House Deputy Director Renata Dwan. He also spoke about the Indo-Pacific on a panel with Indian Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar, EU High Commission Borrell, and Estonian Foreign Minister Liimets.  He also addressed challenges in the Red Sea region in a closed panel with leaders from Ethiopia, Yemen, and the UN.  He met with German Foreign Minister Baerbock, Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Finnish President Niinisto, UN Secretary General Guterres, Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Mayor Klitschko of Kyiv, among others.

In Poland, he met with soldiers and airmen from the U.S. and our NATO allies at Lask Airbase, met with Polish President Duda, Minister of National Defense Blaszczak, Senator Grodzki, and met with journalists at TVN to affirm the value of a free press.  He also visited the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

In Lithuania, he met with Prime Minister Simonyte, Foreign Minister Landsbergis, dined with Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, the first head of Lithuania’s parliament, and heard moving stories about confronting the occupation of the Soviet Union.

ICYMI: Sen. Coons hosts press call following trip to Germany, Poland and Lithuania, discusses situation in Ukraine

WILMINGTON, Del. – This morning, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hosted a press call after returning from congressional travel to Germany, Poland, and Lithuania. He discussed the trip and took questions about the ongoing situation in Ukraine. 

Excerpts from Senator Coons’ remarks are below:

“I have just returned late yesterday from a weeklong trip to Europe. I was part of a large bipartisan delegation to the Munich Security Conference and then travelled onward to Poland and Lithuania with my colleagues Senators Shaheen and Durbin. In Germany I had the opportunity to meet with literally dozens of leaders of our partners and allies both in NATO, Europe and around the world, and in Poland and in Lithuania the opportunity to meet with the national leadership, the president, defense minister, leader of the Senate, prime minister, foreign minister, a variety of key leaders in both countries, but also a chance to go to bases, an airbase in Poland and a training facility in Lithuania, and to see American soldiers and pilots training alongside our NATO partners in Poland, Lithuania, Germany and many others.

“The overall message I bring back from these trips and meetings is first that NATO is stronger than it has ever been, that President Biden and his team have done an outstanding job of mobilizing the West to be prepared for this moment of aggression by Vladimir Putin. That the outrage you are hearing from our partners and allies and their determination to impose swift and strong sanctions to make Russia and in particular Putin and the circle of oligarchs who support him, pay the price for the loss of life that we are seeing unfold today in Kyiv and across Ukraine, is the result of determination of focus. 

“President Biden spoke with our bipartisan delegation as we were meeting with Vice President Harris, and I felt both Secretary Blinken and Vice President Harris gave powerful and important remarks at the Munich Security Conference. I had the chance to meet with too long a list of people to cover, but principle among them the foreign minister of Germany, the opposition leader from Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the UN Secretary General, the President of Ukraine and the Mayor of Kyiv, the NATO Secretary General, and many, many others 

“At the end of the day, Putin is showing his true colors. I was asked last week by a reporter, are you concerned that America will be accused of crying wolf, because even a few days ago it seemed hard for many to believe that Putin would carry out the attack he is now executing across Ukraine.

“And my comment in response was that you’re not crying wolf if he’s actually a wolf. Putin is a thug and a murderer, a force for evil in Europe who will only stop when we stop him. 

“And one of the things I think President Biden has done forcefully and repeatedly is to clarify that we will defend every inch of NATO territory. It may be hard to imagine, but I think that we are in a moment similar to 1939, where the initial taking of Crimea and the Donbas, parts of Oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk and the lack of the immediate forceful response from the West to Putin’s interference in our 2016 election, gave him the mistaken impression that perhaps we were divided.

“When President Biden became President, he invested months in visiting Europe, in connecting with our NATO allies, our British and Canadian partners, and then in going to meet with Putin in person in Geneva, and convey to him that he knows who he is and he knows his intentions.

“My concern is that Putin’s aggression will not stop with Ukraine. That there are other former Soviet Republics that he will consider next, whether Moldova, Armenia or Georgia. One of the things that I think isn’t being covered enough, is that despite the bravery and determination of thousands of Belarusians who protested Lukashenko’s fake reelection and the thousands of political prisoners who are in Belarusian jails right now, that Putin has carried out a sort of soft overthrow of the Lukashenko government by deploying 30,000 Russian troops into Belarus.

“His objective, repeatedly stated, is to reassemble as much of the Soviet Union as he can. His chilling remarks a few days ago, that Ukraine is not a legitimate country that he doesn’t believe it has a right to independence, is a reminder of just how disruptive a force Putin is and will remain in world affairs.”                                                                                       

Audio recording of the call and Senator Coons’ full remarks are available here

Senator Coons Statement on Supreme Court Nomination

“President Biden has made an excellent choice with his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. She is an historic pick with an outstanding record of service – including her service on the D.C. Court of Appeals, the D.C. District Court, and her work as an assistant federal public defender – that makes her as qualified as any Supreme Court nominee in recent memory.

“In his decades on the Court, Justice Breyer has not only brought a keen legal mind but an ability to engage and persuade his colleagues in ways that built majorities that could deliver lasting opinions. With this choice, I am optimistic President Biden has selected someone who will be able to serve that same role on the Court.

“President Biden has done his job, and now it is time for the Senate to do ours. I have been reading into Judge Jackson’s record and past decisions, and I look forward to meeting with her soon and working with my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee to ensure a smooth, swift confirmation process.” 

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Senator Coons on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

“Today, President Putin launched an unprovoked, all-out war against an independent, democratic country that poses no threat to Russia. Putin’s coldly premeditated war will tragically kill thousands of innocent civilians and brave Ukrainian defenders in an attempt to restore a sphere of influence similar to the days of the Soviet Union. My prayers are with the people of Ukraine tonight.

“Over the past week, I’ve traveled to Germany, Poland and Lithuania. I’ve met with the leaders of our NATO allies and heard their stories of confronting the occupation of the old Soviet Union. I’ve met with European partners who have a renewed belief in the ties of the trans-Atlantic alliance. I’ve met with American soldiers and pilots in Lithuania and Poland who have been training alongside our allies, preparing to defend against Russian aggression should Putin’s military turn on NATO member states. All of them wake up this morning to the news that Putin has launched the largest war in Europe since World War II.

“As President Biden said tonight, the world must and will hold Russia accountable. It is thanks to his leadership that we are fully prepared to meet this moment. He has carefully rebuilt our alliances and partnerships over the past year, leading to a united NATO and opposition to Putin’s aggression that we have seen in the first wave of sanctions from the administration and our European and Asian allies over the past several days. It must and will continue with a resolute, massive and united global response. 

“For our part, Congress must swiftly pass a new sanctions package that ensures Russia’s leaders will pay the price for this war. We must also support Ukraine and our NATO allies in Eastern Europe with additional military, economic, and humanitarian assistance, and we must stand vigilant with our allies to counter Russian disinformation. Only by showing resolve and unity, and by acting decisively with our allies, can we make Russia pay the price for this aggression and deter Putin from further attacks against the nations of Europe.”

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Senator Coons on Developments in Ukraine

“The time for taking action to impose significant costs on President Putin and the Kremlin starts now.  By recognizing two fake ‘People’s Republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukrainian territory that his own military actions have carved out of eastern Ukraine since 2014, and then ordering in Russian troops as alleged “peacekeepers,” Putin has rejected the Minsk agreement and clearly violated Ukrainian sovereignty and international law. Instead of choosing the path of diplomatic engagement offered by the United States and Europe, President Putin in a rambling, grievance-fueled speech today has made clear he intends to further invade Ukraine in a blatant effort to redraw the borders of Eastern Europe according to the whims of Moscow.

“President Biden has ably led months of preparation for this moment with our allies in NATO and Europe, and I’m encouraged by clear condemnations of Putin’s actions as well as statements of unity from our partners and allies. We must swiftly join our NATO allies and partners in the European Union to impose forceful new sanctions on Russia, on all those responsible for this dangerous violation of international law, and to provide emergency support for Ukraine.

“At the Munich Security Conference this past weekend, and in visiting NATO allies this week, I heard a united commitment to deter Putin’s further aggression. I joined a statement by 20 of my Senate colleagues pledging to “work toward whatever emergency supplemental legislation will best support our NATO allies and the people of Ukraine, and support freedom and safety around the world…[and] assure that the dictator Putin and his corrupt oligarchs pay a devastating price for their decisions.”

“I look forward to working closely this week with the administration and my colleagues to make these actions real.”

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