Coons, Munich Security Conference Delegation Issue Statement on Ukraine

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to the Munich Security Conference issued the following statement today:

“It now appears increasingly likely that Russian forces will initiate hostilities against a free and peaceful Ukraine. We as a bipartisan delegation will bring home the same unity and resolve we have seen among our Atlantic allies against Russian aggression. We pledge 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. No matter what happens in the coming days, we must assure that the dictator Putin and his corrupt oligarchs pay a devastating price for their decisions.”

Coons, Cornyn bill to apply STOCK Act requirements to judges passes Senate

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statements after the Senate passed their Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, legislation that would require online publication of financial disclosure reports for federal judges and mandate that federal judges submit periodic transaction reports for certain securities transactions:

“The bipartisan Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act will help ensure that our legal system is free from conflicts of interest so that everyone can have clarity and confidence when they enter a courtroom,” said Senator Coons. “I’m glad to see this commonsense reform pass unanimously in the Senate, and I look forward to President Biden signing it into law.”

“Federal judges should never have been excluded from the STOCK Act’s disclosure requirements, and this oversight has resulted in conflicts of interest that erode public trust in our judiciary,” said Senator Cornyn. “I am grateful for my colleagues’ support for this legislation, and I look forward to these important transparency and disclosure provisions becoming the law of the land.” 

The legislation is cosponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). 

Background:

The Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act would require that federal judges’ financial disclosure reports be made publicly available online and require federal judges to submit periodic transaction reports of securities transactions in line with other federal officials under the STOCK Act. The bill, which was introduced in the Senate last October, would amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to:

• Require the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to create a searchable online database of judicial financial disclosure forms and post those forms within 90 days of being filed, and
• Subject federal judges to the STOCK Act’s requirement of filing periodic transaction reports within 45 days of securities transactions over $1,000.

Importantly, the bill also preserves the existing ability of judges to request redactions of personal information on financial disclosure reports due to a security concern.

Under current ethics guidelines and federal law, federal judges are prohibited from hearing cases that involve a party in which they, their spouse, or their minor children have a financial interest. Federal judges are instead supposed to disqualify themselves in any proceeding in which their impartiality may be questioned. Despite this, a recent report from the Wall Street Journal found that between 2010 and 2018, more than 130 federal judges failed to recuse themselves in nearly 700 cases in which they or an immediate family member held stock in a company involved in the case.

While federal judges are required to submit financial disclosure reports, current law does not provide sufficient transparency or certainty for litigants to discern if the judge has a conflict of interest. The current process for obtaining judicial financial disclosure forms can be cumbersome and take months or even years. By contrast, financial disclosure reports for the President, Members of Congress, and Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed officials are readily available online. 

Litigants need real-time access to judges’ financial disclosures and securities transactions in order to preserve the integrity of the proceedings and ensure a recusal when there’s a potential conflict of interest in their case. The Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act would enact necessary updates to disclosure rules and provide litigants and the public with greater confidence in the judicial system.

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Sen. Coons’ resolution establishing National FFA Week passes Senate, celebrates agricultural education

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the Senate Chicken Caucus, and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced a bipartisan resolution to establish February 19-26, 2022 as National FFA Week and celebrate the agricultural education that the National FFA delivers to young Americans. The resolution passed the Senate with unanimous support and works to recognize the important role of the FFA in communities across America.

In addition to designating National FFA Week, the resolution highlights how pivotal the National FFA Organization is in developing young leaders and providing educational and career opportunities to students and celebrates over 70 years of the FFA’s membership magazine, now called New Horizons.

“In Delaware and across the country, young leaders learn to meet the agricultural challenges of tomorrow through programs offered by the Delaware FFA and the National FFA Organization, and our talented agricultural educators,” said Senator Coons. “Here in the Senate, I’m glad we could pass this bipartisan resolution honoring this critical organization and its members who contribute so much to the fabric of many of our communities.”

“Hoosiers agree FFA plays a critical role in the development of students through agricultural education. The lessons, tools, and resources gained through the FFA program equip Indiana’s future leaders with the skills needed to succeed in a variety of fields, including agriculture,” said Senator Young. “I’m glad to introduce this resolution establishing National FFA Week in support of the more than 11,600 FFA members in Indiana.”

“National FFA Week is an important week for members across the country, as not only do we celebrate the organization, but we share the message of FFA and agriculture,” said National FFA Advisor Dr. James Woodard. “During this week, FFA chapters across the country celebrate agriculture while thanking their supporters – whether it be their local alumni chapters, ag advisors or local businesses who support them. Today, FFA and agricultural education continue to play a key role in not only developing the next generation of leaders but also developing those who will be filling the ever-growing need in the talent pipeline. We are grateful to Senators Young and Coons for supporting National FFA week and their continued support of our organization.”

The full text of the resolution is available here. 

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Sen. Coons joins congressional delegation to Munich Security Conference

WASHINGTON — This weekend, 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, will join a bipartisan congressional delegation to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC).

The MSC is widely considered the world’s leading forum for international security policy. The conference is a “marketplace of ideas” where initiatives and solutions are developed and opinions are exchanged. It also provides a venue for diplomatic initiatives and ideas to cooperatively address the world’s most pressing security concerns.

Additional congressional participants include:

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb.)

Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.)

Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)

Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.)

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.)

Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)

Representative Mike Turner (R-Ohio)

Representative James Langevin (D-R.I.)

Representative Jim Banks (R-Ind.)

Representative Jason Crow (D-Colo.)

Representative Buddy Carter (R-Ga.)

Representative Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.)

Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)

Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.)

Representative Ronny Jackson (R-Texas)

Additional Information on the 2022 Munich Security Conference

YouTube Channel of 2022 MSC Panels and Discussions

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Sens. Carper, Coons urge Biden administration to limit junk health plans that undermine standards of Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined 38 of their Senate colleagues in writing a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the Biden administration to limit the sale and availability of short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) plans, also known as “junk plans” because of their failure to provide adequate, comprehensive health insurance coverage.

In 2018, in an effort to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Trump administration made junk plans more widely available to consumers. Since then, the plans have continued to proliferate even though they are not required to adhere to important standards, including prohibitions on discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, coverage for the 10 essential health benefit (EHB) categories, and annual out-of-pocket maximums.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable and comprehensive health care coverage. In order to strengthen that commitment, HHS must act quickly to limit the proliferation and promotion of STLDI plans, and undue the sabotage caused by the previous administration,” said the senators.

During the last open enrollment period, over 32,000 Delawareans enrolled for health insurance on the exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act, an increase of more than 25% from the previous year. This record reflects the success of the American Rescue Plan, which improved and expanded access to premium assistance on the marketplace.

In addition to Senators Carper and Coons, the letter to HHS was also signed by Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

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

Dear Secretary Becerra:

This year, 14.5 million Americans signed up for comprehensive health insurance coverage during Open Enrollment, a new record. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, four out of five consumers who receive health insurance from the marketplace are finding quality coverage for less than $10 per month, and a majority of those enrollees are also receiving subsidies to decrease their co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket spending. We write to congratulate you and your entire department for this significant achievement and encourage you to take additional steps to ensure that even more Americans are protected from substandard plans that do not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. Now is the time to issue new regulations limiting the sale and availability of short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) plans, also known as “junk plans” because of their failure to provide adequate coverage

Despite the important gains that we have made in providing comprehensive and affordable coverage for more Americans, STLDI plans continue to sow confusion and cause harm to patients. These plans, which are not required to adhere to important standards, including prohibitions on discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, coverage for the 10 essential health benefit (EHB) categories, and annual out-of-pocket maximums, have continued to proliferate. In 2018, the Trump administration issued a rule to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by promoting STLDI plans and that same year all Senate Democrats and one Republican Senator voted to block the rule. Unfortunately, this effort to undermine critical patient and consumer protections has yet to be undone.

We were pleased to see the Biden administration include amending regulations concerning STLDI plans in the Fall 2021 Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan, and are proud of the historic coverage gains that we have seen as a result of President Biden’s and your leadership. However, it is past time for us to take action. STLDI plans undermine the integrity of the ACA and put those with pre-existing conditions at risk. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should immediately restore the three-month duration limit for plans, limit plan renewability, and reduce the ability to purchase back-to-back STLDI plans. We also urge you to consider additional efforts to protect patients and consumers such as banning sales during Marketplace Open Enrollment, limiting internet and phone sales, establishing a prohibition on retroactive coverage rescissions, and requiring additional consumer disclosures about plan coverage.

It is our responsibility to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable and comprehensive health care coverage. In order to strengthen that commitment, HHS must act quickly to limit the proliferation and promotion of STLDI plans, and undue the sabotage caused by the previous administration.

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ICYMI Sen. Coons: How Biden’s faith-based office has advanced his vow to heal the soul of the nation

WASHINGTON — In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published an op-ed in Religion News Service yesterday commemorating the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s re-establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships by discussing how President Biden’s faith has not only shaped that office, but the entirety of his presidency over the last year-plus. The White House Office of Faith Based and Community Partnerships was first launched by President George W. Bush in 2001 and continued through the Obama administration. It was re-established by President Biden on February 14, 2021.

Religion News Service: How Biden’s faith-based office has advanced his vow to heal the soul of the nation

By Senator Chris Coons

“Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

Those words of St. Francis to his followers come to mind this week as we mark the one-year anniversary Monday (Feb. 14) of President Joe Biden’s reestablishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, a little over a year since he put his hand on the Bible and took the oath of office as our 46^th president.

Looking back over that year, it’s evident that President Biden believes deeply in the words of St. Francis.

Our president’s faith is private and personal; with rare exceptions, such as this month’s National Prayer Breakfast, he doesn’t discuss it at length in public. Rather, he demonstrates his faith through works and deeds. Over the past year, President Biden has used his service to our nation to show us his faith — a faith of empathy and compassion, a faith rooted in both the Social Gospel movement and the words of the Gospels themselves.

The full op-ed can be read here.

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Sen. Coons, Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats meet with President Biden and Vice President Harris to discuss Supreme Court vacancy

WASHINGTON – At a meeting in the White House this evening, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and other Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy. Along with Senator Coons, today’s meeting was also attended by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), 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.), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.).

“It was a pleasure to join President Biden and my Senate colleagues at the White House this evening to discuss the pending Supreme Court vacancy,” said Senator Coons. “As a former Chair of the Judiciary Committee, President Biden knows the skills, qualifications and temperament we need on the Supreme Court and federal benches across the country – that’s why he had a record number of judges confirmed in his first year. More than ever, I’m looking forward to President Biden’s announcement of an historic nominee and working with my colleagues to swiftly confirm an exceptionally qualified jurist to the Supreme Court.”

“As a former Chair of the Judiciary Committee, President Biden takes the ‘advice’ role of the Senate very seriously—and I appreciate his desire to seek the advice of Committee Senators as he considers nominees for the Supreme Court vacancy. During today’s meeting, I reiterated that regardless of the nominee, the Committee’s process will be fair and timely. Senators will have the opportunity to thoroughly consider the nominee’s record, and the nominee will be treated respectfully and receive a prompt confirmation vote. We owe that not just to the nominee, but to the American people,” said Senator Durbin.

“We had a productive consultation with President Biden today about the forthcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court. President Biden and I are both former chairs of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and we understand just how important it is for the President to consult with the Senate throughout this process,” said Senator Leahy. “I commend President Biden for seeking our input early on. I am confident that he will nominate a brilliant and talented Black woman who will excel as a Justice and who will make the Court better reflect our richly diverse nation.”

“I was pleased to discuss President Biden’s plans to select a talented, highly-qualified, and historic nominee to the Supreme Court,” said Senator Whitehouse. “The president is firmly set on selecting a nominee with a strong commitment to our Constitution and its guarantee of equal justice, as well as a firm grasp of the everyday challenges Americans face. I was also glad to discuss the attacks on President Biden’s yet-unnamed nominee from Republicans and the same right-wing dark money groups that packed the Supreme Court under Donald Trump.  It’s vital to call out those attacks as a bad-faith effort to distract from what Justice Sotomayor calls the ‘stench’ of partisanship permeating the Supreme Court.”

“Confirming a Supreme Court justice is one of the most consequential responsibilities of the United States Senate,” said Senator Klobuchar. “At today’s meeting with President Biden, my colleagues and I reiterated our support for an expeditious process while ensuring each candidate receives thorough consideration on the basis of their experience, character, and fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. I am looking forward to continuing to work with my Senate colleagues and the President throughout this process.”

“I was honored to join my Senate Judiciary Committee colleagues in meeting with President Biden as he considers this historic Supreme Court nomination. I shared my hope that he will nominate a Justice who has profound integrity and an energetic intelligence. I’d like to see a nominee who is able to understand and appreciate the real-world consequences of the Court’s actions and whose intellectual curiosity and strength of character allow her the capacity for growth. We are so lucky that the American legal community includes so many Black women who embody these characteristics, and I look forward to considering one of their nominations when President Biden makes his decision,” said Senator Blumenthal.

“I am confident that President Biden will soon nominate an exceptionally qualified Black woman who is fair and impartial. I made clear to President Biden that we need a Supreme Court that actually reflects America, and appointing the first Black woman would help make that a reality. This is a lifetime appointment, so we also need a Justice who will not join the conservative majority in rolling back precedent and the constitutional rights of all people,”said Senator Hirono.

“It was an honor to join members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today to meet with President Biden as he prepares to announce his historic nominee to the Supreme Court,”said Senator Booker. “The next Supreme Court Justice should possess a commitment to protecting and advancing the rights of all Americans – from the rights of women to make their own medical decision, to the rights of workers to organize, to protecting voting rights and defending the principle of equal justice under the law. Once President Biden makes his announcement, I look forward to working with the Administration and fellow committee members to expeditiously consider the nominee and confirm the first Black woman to the United States Supreme Court.”

“I commend President Biden for his commitment to building a federal judiciary that reflects the diversity of the country it serves—including by nominating the first Black woman in history to serve on the Supreme Court,” said Senator Padilla. “Today, I reiterated the importance of filling this upcoming vacancy in a thoughtful and timely manner to the President and Vice President.  As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I look forward to expeditiously confirming a highly-qualified nominee who is committed to upholding and protecting constitutional values on the nation’s highest court.”

“Today I met with President Biden and Vice President Harris to consult on the upcoming Supreme Court nomination,” said Senator Ossoff. “I conveyed that I look forward to seeing President Biden’s nominee before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where I will perform my Constitutional duties of advice and consent with diligence and care.”

“I was disappointed to miss this evening’s White House meeting but believe the president is doing the right thing by soliciting views from a number of senators from both parties concerning who he will nominate to the Supreme Court,” said Senator Feinstein. “I have spoken with the White House and have every confidence that President Biden will select a nominee with excellent credentials who will be extremely well-qualified to serve on our highest court.”

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Sen. Coons, colleagues urge administration to address seasonal labor shortages with visa cap relief

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) wrote a bipartisan letter with 34 of his Senate colleagues to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh requesting the administration release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2022. They also urged the administration to expedite the processing of these applications so that the workers can begin work by April 1.

“American businesses from industries such as tourism and hospitality, landscaping, fairs and carnivals, seafood processing, golf courses, reforestation, contractors and horse racing depend on seasonal employment to meet the demand across many industries. Without meaningful H-2B cap relief, many seasonal businesses will be forced to scale back operations, cancel or default on contracts, lay off full-time U.S. workers and, in some cases, close operations completely. By taking action to release and process additional H-2B visas, seasonal businesses and U.S. workers across the country will avoid these harmful consequences and instead help contribute to the American economy,” the senators wrote. 

Given the growing demand for H-2B workers as our economy continues to reopen and employers continue to struggle with staffing shortages, Delaware businesses depend on a sufficient number of applications to attract the workers who sustain and support small businesses and agriculture communities.  Delaware businesses are often dependent upon foreign workers for seasonal employment, specifically calling about landscapers, fishermen, and groundskeepers for busy beach seasons. H-2B visas reduce labor shortages for Delaware’s seasonal businesses and limit beach towns having to reduce hours and product inventories.

The letter was led by Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Michael Rounds (R-S.D.). In addition to Senator Coons, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-N.C.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Roy Blunt (R-M.O.), Raphael Warnock (D-G.A.), Cindy Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Ind.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ron Wyden (R-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Barrasso (D-Wyo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also co-signed the letter.

The full letter is available here. 

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Sens. Carper, Coons applaud confirmation of Judge Stark to federal circuit court

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tom Carper (both D-Del.), applauded the confirmation of Delaware’s District Judge Leonard Stark to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In December, both senators introduced Judge Stark at his confirmation hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee and praised his character, work ethic, and temperament.

“From his service to the American people as an Assistant U.S. Attorney to his 12 years on the Delaware District Court, Judge Stark has earned the respect and admiration of the legal community and Americans across the country,” said Senator Carper. “I’m confident that his judicial experience—particularly in the complex legal arena of patent law—makes him a perfect fit for this federal judgeship. He represents not only the best of what Delaware has to offer, but the best of public service in our nation. Today, the First State is proud we get to share a public servant like Judge Stark with our entire country.”

“The broad bipartisan support for Judge Stark’s confirmation is a testament to his keen legal mind and outstanding character,” said Senator Coons. “Judge Stark has shown dedication and integrity throughout his tenure on the federal bench in Delaware, and I am confident his principled judgment and judicial reasoning will serve the Federal Circuit well.”

Prior to graduating from Yale Law School, Judge Stark received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Delaware, and studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. Since 2010, he has served as a District Judge for the U.S. District Court for Delaware, including as Chief Judge from 2014 to 2021.

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Senator Coons speaks with Sudanese General Burhan amidst political crisis in Sudan

WILMINGTON, Del. – 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, spoke today with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Senator Coons reiterated his grave concern and that of his colleagues in Congress regarding the political crisis in Sudan and the ongoing crackdown by security forces on protesters that has left nearly 80 people dead since October. He reminded General Burhan of the strong bipartisan support for advancing legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on those undermining the democratic transition in Sudan and violating human rights if the military does not change course, a message that was underscored by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last week on Sudan’s imperiled transition. 

Senator Coons emphasized the importance of ending lethal violence against protestors and enforcing accountability for violations that have taken place, supporting the United Nations-led political consultations toward establishing a civilian democratic government, and facilitating the military’s exit from Sudanese politics. Senator Coons made clear that the national electoral process cannot be rushed and that major reforms are necessary to ensure elections are free, fair, inclusive, and credible.

Sudan is a country of more than 44 million people that sits at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East. It is an important security partner for the United States in counterterrorism efforts. Following the ouster of 30-year dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the country drafted a new constitution and began a democratic transition with U.S. support, which was halted with a military coup on October 25, 2021. During last week’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Sudan, Senator Coons announced his nomination of several of Sudan’s grassroots nonviolent pro-democracy groups for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

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