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805 rows where chamber = "House", state = "DE" and year = 2018 sorted by date descending

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https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-statement-on-tomorrows-elections-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo Sen. Coons’ statement on tomorrow’s elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2018-12-29 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.29.18 Sen. Coons' statement on tomorrow's elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo WILMINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement ahead of tomorrow's long-delayed elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I call on the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo ensure that long delayed elections take place as scheduledtomorrow, December 30and that the Congolese people are able to participate freely. Security forces, candidates, and their supporters must refrain from violence and commit to the rule of law and transparent, accountable governance. The people of the DRC, a country the size of Western Europe, have suffered enough in recent years due to pervasive corruption, attacks by armed groups, and a lack of basic services. The current and recent outbreak of Ebola in the east compounds these challenges. Congo's 81 million people have never known the leaders they deserve. The election tomorrow represents an opportunity to turn over a new page in the country's history. But the conduct of the pre-election environment has not been encouraging. This election should have been held at the end of 2016 under DRC's constitution. The Saint Sylvestre political agreement of December 2016 provided a one-year extension, which authorities again failed to respect. Most recently, a mysterious fire that destroyed some eight thousand voting machines, which were apparently to be used in the capital of Kinshasa (an opposition stronghold), caused an additional one-week delay. Finally, the electoral commission decided unilaterally this week that some 1.2 million people in Beni, Butembo, and Yumbi (also known for supporting opposition candidates) will not be able to vote on Sunday, due to the Ebola outbreak as well as recent violence. These delays are concerning. I am also disappointed by the electoral commission's refusal to accept independent election observers from the European Union or the U.S.-based Carter Cente… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-to-epa-dismantling-mercury-emissions-rule-puts-americans-health-at-risk Carper to EPA: Dismantling Mercury Emissions Rule Puts Americans Health at Risk 2018-12-28 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is rolling back critical protections by asserting that it is no longer appropriate and necessary to regulate mercury and toxic air pollution from coal and oil fired plants under the Mercury Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Once again, the Trump Administration is acting in a way that will adversely affect the health and safety of those living from coast to coast.The Trump EPA has decided despite the recommendations of scientists, public health experts and elected officials on both sides of the aisle that it is no longer appropriate and necessary' to protect the development ofinfants' brains from the serious threats posed by mercury power plant pollution. By releasing this proposal today, Acting Administrator Wheeler can only be attempting to rush an egregious policy before EPA staff are furloughed that is not only wildly unpopular, but also rolls back years of critical protections that keep toxic emissions out of the air we all breathe. With this action, EPA is also setting a dangerous precedent that a federal agency charged with protecting the environment and public health will no longer factor in all the clear health, environmental, and economics benefits of clean air polices, such as reducing cancer and birth defects.Since the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule was issued in 2012, both electric prices and mercury pollution have gone down. With this proposal, EPA has decided to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and all Americans will suffer as a result. Background on Senator Carper's fight to limit mercury emissions: Senator Carper in December sent aletterto the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) expressing grave concerns that in making this decision, EPA is ignoring or dismissing many of the MATS rule's public health benefits and actual costs. Senator Carper in Augustint… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-face-the-nation-december-23-2018 Sen. Coons joins Face the Nation December 23, 2018 2018-12-24 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-cnn-new-day-december-21-2018 Sen. Coons joins CNN New Day December 21, 2018 2018-12-21 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-hardball-december-20-2018 Sen. Coons joins Hardball December 20, 2018 2018-12-21 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-senate-democrats-urge-va-to-protect-student-veterans-in-light-of-education-corporation-of-america-s-abrupt-closure Carper, Senate Democrats Urge VA to Protect Student Veterans in Light of Education Corporation of Americas Abrupt Closure 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy Senate Democrats express serious concerns regarding sudden closure of more than 70 for-profit college campuses WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) led a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding the recent closure of Education Corporation of America's (ECA) national chain of for-profit colleges, including Brightwood College, Brightwood Career Institute, Ecotech Institute, Golf Academy of America, and Virginia College. Earlier this month, ECA abruptly announced the closure of more than 70 campuses across 21 states. More than 4,000 students attending ECA campuses in FY 2016 were veterans. Joining Senator Carper in sending the letter were Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) School closures continue to disproportionately harm student veterans, the senators wrote. Unfortunately, the Forever GI Bill does not provide full restoration of GI Bill benefits going forward, including for ECA students. Additionally, the terms of the limited restoration may leave the ECA student veterans who were able to complete their current term without any restoration of their hard-earned GI Bill benefits whatsoever, despite the fact that those credits may carry little value. Unlike Corinthian and ITT Tech student veterans, ECA student veterans are facing the prospect that months or years of their benefits will have been effectively wasted. The senators also requested the VA work with the U.S. Department of Education and with State Approving Agencies to ensure that veterans affected by the closures would receive accurate information about their options, including transfer opportunities that would allow them to continue on their road to higher education without putting them at risk of further deception. In November of 2017, Senator Carper reintroduced the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act, legislation that would close a loophole that allows for-profit schools to avoid having to … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/congress-passes-carper-coons-blunt-rochester-bill-to-fix-coastal-barrier-resources-map-affecting-north-bethany-beach-homeowners Congress Passes Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Bill to Fix Coastal Barrier Resources Map Affecting North Bethany Beach Homeowners 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Delaware's Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), celebrated the passage of the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 2018, which included legislation they led in the House and Senate thatadjusts the boundary maps under theCoastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) for Delaware's North Bethany Beach map unit. The Strengthening Coastal Communities Act also adjusts maps in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, helping coastal homeowners qualify for disaster aid and setting aside thousands of acres for wildlife conservation. Specifically, the legislation will implement a recommendation made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) following itsdiscovery during a recent digital mapping pilot project that a portion of the North Bethany Beach unit, which encompasses the South Shore Marina development, was included by mistake when the map was created in 1990. This change to the map may only be made through Congressional action. The Coastal Barrier Resources Act saves taxpayers money, keeps people and their property out of harm's way and conserves natural resources by restricting most federal expenditures and financial assistance for new construction on barrier islands. But a mistake made years ago has prevented South Shore Marina homeowners from accessing subsidized flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),said Senator Carper, top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee.This bill fixes that mistake and allows Delaware homeowners access to the National Flood Insurance Program. This common-sense fix will help protect both Delaware homeowners and our natural resources,said Senator Coons. Severe storms will continue to threaten our coast, and it is important for Congress to make these updates as our mapping technology improves. I am pleased that we were able to advance legislation that ensures Delaware homeowners can access the federal flood insurance program. Families along … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/release-carper-murkowski-introduce-bill-to-help-americans-transition-to-more-efficient-wood-heaters-reduce-air-pollution Carper, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Help Americans Transition to More Efficient Wood Heaters, Reduce Air Pollution 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), top Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), introduced a bill (S. 3779) that would establish a grant program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to incentivize the removal and replacement of old, inefficient residential wood heaters with efficient, clean-burning heaters. The Wood Heaters Emissions Reduction Act (WHERA) reduces toxic air pollution, protects public health, and supports the expansion of American jobs. WHERA also requires that Indian tribal and rural communities are fairly represented in funding allocations. I've long said that there are ways to clean up our environment and grow our economy at the same time and the Wood Heaters Emissions Reduction Act is an example of how we can do just that,said Senator Carper.This bipartisan legislation builds off of the successes we continue to see with the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act one of the most cost effective federal clean air programs with an average of $13 in health and economic benefits for every $1 put into the program. The Wood Heaters Emissions Reduction Act ensures communities that rely on wood heaters have access to cleaner, more affordable ones, reduces toxic pollution in the air we all breathe, and creates jobs here at home. At a time when our country is looking for ways to grow our economy, reduce health care costs and clean up the environment, this legislation stands out as an opportunity we should capitalize on. It's a true win-win. Many Alaskans, along with millions of families across the country, rely on wood as an abundant, affordable fuel to heat their homes. Older, inefficient appliances for wood heat can last a really long time, but newer options are better for both our health and the environment,said Senator Murkowski.The bill Sen. Carper and I introduced yesterday would provide families with a cost-effective way to transition to appli… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/video-following-cop24-carper-calls-for-bolder-action-to-combat-climate-change VIDEO: Following COP24, Carper Calls for Bolder Action to Combat Climate Change 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Several days after the conclusion of the COP24 climate conference in Poland, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), joined other Democrats on the Senate floor yesterday to discuss the urgent need for decisive action to fight climate change. In his remarks, Senator Carper also highlighted the agreements reached at COP24, the Trump Administration's ignorance of this issue and the economic, environmental and public health consequences of inaction. Following the conclusion of COP24, Senator Carper on Saturday released a statement responding to the multilateral agreement reached to implement the Paris Climate Accord. Read that responseHERE. This agreement is not perfect, and no one is pretending it is. It falls well short of the steps that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determined, just months ago, are needed to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change over the next decade,said Senator Carper.Americans are witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change in their communities every dayYet, as the world works to develop meaningful solutions to mitigate these effects of climate change, the Trump Administration chooses to exacerbate the problem by doubling down on dirty and outdated energy policies. Senator Carper continued,We don't have the luxury of waiting around. We need to crank it up and get going. That's why, as the senior Democrat and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, I'm anxious to help lead the fight for policies that take this country into a brighter climate future. If we're honest with our children and grandchildren, we don't have any other choice Today's speech can be viewed by clickingHERE. Below are Senator Carper's full remarks, as prepared for delivery: Mr. President, I rise today with Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley to reflect on the 24th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that concluded this past weekend in Poland.… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-morning-joe-december-20-2018 Sen. Coons joins Morning Joe December 20, 2018 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congress-passes-carper-coons-blunt-rochester-bill-to-fix-coastal-barrier-resources-map-affecting-north-bethany-beach-homeowners Congress Passes Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Bill to Fix Coastal Barrier Resources Map Affecting North Bethany Beach Homeowners 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.20.18 Congress Passes Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Bill to Fix Coastal Barrier Resources Map Affecting North Bethany Beach Homeowners Legislation makes common sense fix that will allow Delaware homeowners to access the National Flood Insurance Program WASHINGTON, D.C. Delaware's Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), celebrated the passage of the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 2018, which included legislation they led in the House and Senate thatadjusts the boundary maps under theCoastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) for Delaware's North Bethany Beach map unit. The Strengthening Coastal Communities Act also adjusts maps in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, helping coastal homeowners qualify for disaster aid and setting aside thousands of acres for wildlife conservation. Specifically, the legislation will implement a recommendation made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) following itsdiscovery during a recent digital mapping pilot project that a portion of the North Bethany Beach unit, which encompasses the South Shore Marina development, was included by mistake when the map was created in 1990. This change to the map may only be made through Congressional action. This common-sense fix will help protect both Delaware homeowners and our natural resources,saidSenator Coons.Severe storms will continue to threaten our coast, and it is important for Congress to make these updates as our mapping technology improves. I am pleased that we were able to advance legislation that ensures Delaware homeowners can access the federal flood insurance program. The Coastal Barrier Resources Act saves taxpayers money, keeps people and their property out of harm's way and conserves natural resources by restricting most federal expenditures and financial assistance for new construction on barrier islands. But a… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/coons-blunt-bill-to-protect-victims-of-child-abuse-passes-house-is-on-its-way-to-the-presidents-desk Coons, Blunt bill to protect victims of child abuse passes House, is on its way to the President’s desk 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.20.18 Coons, Blunt bill to protect victims of child abuse passes House, is on its way to the President's desk WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (Del.) and Roy Blunt (Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, announced that their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA) passed the Housewith overwhelming bipartisan support and is on its way to the president's desk. The legislation provides funding for Children's Advocacy Centers that serve child victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. Children's Advocacy Centers protect children in Delaware and all across the country, and I'm very glad that Senator Blunt and I have been able to work across the aisle to move forward a reauthorization of the Victims of Child Abuse Act,said Coons.This legislation will ensure that law enforcement, along with health and other service providers, have the resources they need to care for children who have been abused and quickly prosecute the perpetrators of these horrific crimes. Every year, Children's Advocacy Centers protect thousands of our state's most vulnerable children,said Blunt.By reauthorizing funding for this critical program, Child Advocacy Centers and law enforcement will continue to have the tools they need to coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases. I thank Senator Coons, our colleagues in the House, and advocacy groups across the nation for their help in getting this bill to the president's desk. The funding that the CAC of Delaware receives through the Victims of Child Abuse Act is critical to the continued operation of our three CAC's here in Delaware,said Randy Williams, CEO Child Advocacy Centers of Delaware.We rely on federal and private grant funding for over 43% of our annual revenue. We very much appreciate Senator Coons' unwavering efforts to ensure that CAC's nationwide have the financial resources required to provide essential services for victims of child abuse. National Ch… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-statement-on-president-trumps-decision-to-withdraw-us-troops-from-syria Sen. Coons’ statement on President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.20.18 Sen. Coons' statement on President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the Trump Administration's surprise announcement that it intends to quickly withdraw U.S. forces from Syria: I am alarmed by the Administration's abrupt withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. The Administration must clearly explain to the American people why a withdrawal serves our national interests, strengthens our allies, prevents the re-emergence of ISIS, and counters the expansion of Iranian influence in the Middle East. Just a few weeks ago, Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, argued that the United States needed to remain in Syria to train local partner forces, continue stabilization efforts, and decisively defeat ISIS. Surprise announcements and rash decisions make for bad foreign policy. In April, I led abipartisan letterto President Trump, urging him to sustain a U.S. force presence in Syria and work with Congress on a comprehensive strategy.The Trump Administration has supposedly made countering Iran the centerpiece of its Middle East strategy. Yet this decision will allow Iran to increase its influence in Syria, threaten Israel, and increase risks to our Arab and Kurdish partners. The Administration owes Congress and the American people more information about this decision, and I look forward to getting briefed by top administration officials soon." ### Press Contact Sean Coit at 202-224-5042 orSean_Coit@coons.senate.gov Print Email Tweet Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sen-coons-trumps-syria-decision-a-great-big-christmas-gift-to-the-ayatollah-khamenei-to-vladimir-putin-and-bashar-al-assad [VIDEO] Sen. Coons: Trump’s Syria decision “a great big Christmas gift to the Ayatollah Khamenei, to Vladimir Putin, and Bashar al-Assad” 2018-12-20 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.20.18 [VIDEO] Sen. Coons: Trump's Syria decision a great big Christmas gift to the Ayatollah Khamenei, to Vladimir Putin, and Bashar al-Assad Sen. Coons: I couldn't disagree more with this decision. It's a terrible decision, both in how the president made it and in what he's decided to do. I only pray that our president will reconsider. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this morning joined MSNBC's Morning Joe. For us to unilaterally withdrawand abandon the Kurds to analmost certain advance by eitherthe Turks or the Iranians orboth, I think is just, whywould anyone stand alongside usand fight in such an importantconflict as our work againstISIS in the future if this is how we treat our partners, the Kurdsin this important fight againstISIS?So, you'll see a lot of efforttoday to try to persuade thepresident to reverse thisdecision,said Senator Coons. Video and transcript availablehere. Excerpts from the transcript are below: Sen. Coons on Syria:That's right.I couldn't disagree more withthis decision.It's a terrible decision, bothin how the president made it andin what he's decided to do.I only pray that our presidentwill reconsider, because hemanaged to unite all of usin the Senate in the last twodays. First, we had a very positive daywhere we all came together andpassed a big bold bipartisancriminal justice reform bill andmanaged to avoid a governmentshutdown, so the mood was prettypositive yesterday.And then just like a shot ofelectricity, the message thatthe president in a tweetannounced he was going towithdraw from Syria and hand agreat big Christmas gift to theAyatollah Khamenei, to Vladimir Putin, and Bashar al-Assad of Syria I think unified our Senatein concern, even outrage.You've played earlier in thissegment the statement from awide range of senators.I'll add my voice to them.I pray our president reversesthis terrible decision th… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-schumer-demand-disclosure-of-administration-s-oil-industry-contacts-after-reports-of-covert-campaign-to-weaken-fuel-economy-standards Carper, Schumer Demand Disclosure of Administrations Oil Industry Contacts After Reports of Covert Campaign to Weaken Fuel Economy Standards 2018-12-19 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to several Trump Administration cabinet members and officials demanding information regarding the New York Times report that Marathon Petroleum, the largest oil refiner in the United States, engaged in a covert lobbying campaign with oil industry groups to support Trump Administration efforts to weaken fuel economy standards and increase demand for oil consumption. The lobbying campaign reportedly includedcontacts with federal agencies, including meetings between then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Marathon Petroleum CEO Gary Heminger. The campaign also used a front group, titled Energy4US, to mask its ties to the oil industry while urging the public to support weaker standards. The letter was sent to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Andrew Wheeler, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney, and Chief of Staff to the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Mary Neumayr. A copy of the letters can be found HERE, and full text of the letter and its attachment is below: December 19, 2018 Dear Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Andrew Wheeler, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney, and Chief of Staff to the Council of Environmental Quality Mary Neumayr, We write to convey our strong concerns regarding last week's New York Times report that Marathon Petroleum, the largest oil refiner in the United States, along with oil industry and other groups[1], engaged in a covert lobbying campaign to support the Trump Administration's proposal to weaken fuel economy standards for cars and SUVs.[2] The Administration's proposal also seeks to remove California's authority to set and enfor… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-npr-morning-edition-december-19-2018 Sen. Coons joins NPR Morning Edition December 19, 2018 2018-12-19 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-colleagues-celebrate-passage-of-major-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform Sen. Coons, colleagues celebrate passage of major, bipartisan criminal justice reform 2018-12-19 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committeeand an original cosponsor of the revisedFirst Step Act, tonight celebrated the passage ofthisbipartisan legislation in the Senate to reduce recidivism, improve fairness, and promote safety in the criminal justice system. The revisedFirst Step Acthas been endorsed by President Donald Trump and was cosponsored by more than a third of the Senate. The American criminal justice system is broken, and it has been for a long time. The mass incarceration explosion resulting from the War on Drugs' and tough on crime' policies of the last four decades has left us with prisons that are overcrowded and costly and inmates that are often unfairly sentenced and forgotten. For decades, our system has focused too much on criminalization and incarceration and too little on justice and rehabilitation,said Senator Coons.I was proud to partner with my colleagues to craft legislation that would make the criminal justice system fairer,and I look forward to seeing President Trump sign the First Step Act into law. The comprehensive, revisedFirst Step Actaims to reduce crime by helping low-risk inmates prepare to successfully rejoin society through participation in proven recidivism reduction and professional development programs. It also improves fairness in prison sentences by recalibrating certain mandatory minimum sentences, granting greater discretion for judges in sentencing of low-level, nonviolent drug crimes,and clarifying congressional intent on sentencing enhancements for certain crimes involving firearms.Thelegislation also allows petitions for retroactive application of theFair Sentencing Actto be considered on an individual basis to reduce sentence disparities between crack and powder cocaine offenses. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-coons-flake-introduce-landmark-bipartisan-legislation-to-put-money-in-the-pockets-of-working-families-by-pricing-carbon-pollution Sens. Coons, Flake introduce landmark bipartisan legislation to put money in the pockets of working families by pricing carbon pollution 2018-12-19 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.19.18 Sens. Coons, Flake introduce landmark bipartisan legislation to put money in the pockets of working families by pricing carbon pollution The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act will help to create 2.1 million net new jobs and reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 33% within a decade WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today introduced bipartisanlegislation to pay a monthly dividend to every American family.The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act places an increasing price on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, designed to drivedown pollution,address climate change,andencouragemarket-driven innovation in clean energy technologies. Revenues received will be returned directly to the American people in the form of a monthly dividend, protecting energy consumers and low- and middle-income households. The legislation aims to help accelerateAmerican innovation to advance clean energysolutions,incentivize our trading partners to lower emissions,and preventthousands ofpollution-related deaths annually. Arelatedbill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), John Delaney (D-Md.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), and Charlie Christ (D-Fla.). Climate change is a serious threat to our economy, our security, and our way of life, and we need leadership from all parts of our society and government to tackle it,said Senator Coons. Putting an economy-wide price on carbon and other greenhouse gases is a comprehensive way to reduce emissions, spur innovation, and create jobs. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my good friend Jeff Flake, who has long been a champion of market-based climate legislation since his days in the House. I am hopeful that we will continue to have bipartisan conversations about addressing this issue. With the administration's recent climate assessment and skeptical resp… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-schumer-demand-overdue-epa-action-to-ban-deadly-paint-stripping-chemical Carper, Schumer Demand Overdue EPA Action to Ban Deadly Paint-Stripping Chemical 2018-12-18 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Yesterday, Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.),senta letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler demanding EPA immediately finalize its proposed ban of methylene chloride, a hazardous chemical found primarily in paint strippers that has for years posed grave and deadly risks to unsuspecting users. Since the EPA in May acknowledged the dangers of methylene chloride in aplanto ban the product from store shelves and online, the agency has been slow-walking the process and endangering people who may have no clue just how dangerous this chemical really isuntil they've been exposed, sickened or worse. While some stores have phased out or have committed to voluntarily remove the methylene chloride product from shelves, it is still sold by a number of American retailers including Walmart, Menards and Ace Hardware. The senators released the following statements commenting on EPA's inaction: In May of this year, I welcomed EPA's announcement that it intended to finalize a ban on methylene chloride. But seven months have come and gone and a ban has yet to be finalized on a chemical so dangerous that it is killing unsuspecting Americans who pick it up at the hardware store,said Senator Carper.Congress passed TSCA reform in 2016 with overwhelming bipartisan and stakeholder support. Despite that clear and definitive mandate, the Trump Administration cannot even manage to finalize the ban of a chemical so harmful to human health that stores have voluntarily taken it off their shelves. There is absolutely no excuse for this delay. It is shocking to think that a chemical and product that has made people really sick, even caused deaths, is available for sale in everyday stores and online while the federal government sits back and presses pause on a plan to remove it from the marketplace,said Senator Schumer.That is why I am sounding the alarm today for all DIY-types across Long Island w… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-votes-to-advance-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform-bill Carper Votes to Advance Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill 2018-12-18 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy FIRST STEP Act backed by diverse coalition including law enforcement and victims' organizations, religious organizations, business groups, the National Governors Association WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) voted to advance the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person (FIRST STEP) Act (S.3649). The bipartisan legislation, which Senator Carper cosponsored, combines prison reform proposals that overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year with sentencing reform provisions from the broadly bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2018. The bill, which passed the Senate by a final vote of 87-12, now heads to the House for approval. The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the entire world. While our country makes up only five percent of the world's population, it incarcerates more than 20 percent of the world's prisoners, said Senator Carper. We should not be aiming to win any records for how many individuals we are incarcerating; instead, we should be working to ensure that those who serve their time are re-entering our society as better people, not better criminals. Despite the over $80 billion that our country spends on incarceration every year, our criminal justice system continues to face problems with overcrowding, inmate violence and high recidivism rates. The FIRST STEP Act puts long-awaited common-sense reforms into our federal prison system to address these problems while critically providing equal justice under the law. Today's vote may be overdue, but I am pleased that we were finally able to seize the day and pass this legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support. I would urge the House to take this measure up quickly so that the President can sign it into law. The FIRST STEP Act contains both sentencing guidelines and recidivism reduction reforms. The bill's sentencing reform provisions include: Expansion of the … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-leads-epw-minority-members-in-urging-epa-to-abandon-baseless-proposal-on-animal-waste-emissions-reporting Carper Leads EPW Minority Members in Urging EPA to Abandon Baseless Proposal on Animal Waste Emissions Reporting 2018-12-17 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. On Friday, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), led all EPW minority members in aletterto Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler calling for the agency to reverse course on a proposal that would exempt farms from reporting requirements for hazardous air emissions from animal waste under the Emergency Planning Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). In the letter, the senators noted that EPA lacks the legal basis to disregard key elements of EPCRA. The law was enacted in 1986 to help authorities track airborne health hazards, deploy emergency response efforts to mitigate impacts on public safety, and provide citizens with information about potential chemical hazards in their communities. EPA is required to faithfully execute the laws as passed by Congress,the senators wrote.EPA's proposed rule vastly exceeds EPA's statutory authority and countermands unambiguous Congressional intent. EPA's proposed interpretation of reporting requirements for hazardous air emissions from animal waste relies on a statutory interpretation that was considered, and specifically rejected by Congress, when it enacted the FARM Act into law. EPA should withdraw this proposed rule and faithfully execute and enforce EPCRA and CERCLA reporting requirements consistent with the laws passed by Congress. Earlier this year, President Trump signed theFair Agricultural Reporting Method Act(FARM Act) into law, narrowly exempting animal waste air emissions on farms from reporting requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or the Superfund law. Congress chose to leave in place reporting requirements under EPCRA. Despite Congress's express desire, on November 14th, Acting Administrator Wheeler proposed to extend the hazardous air emission exemption for farms to ECPRA, effectively violating congressional intent of keeping the law's reporting requirements intact. The letter was also sig… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-cnn-new-day-december-17-2018 Sen. Coons joins CNN New Day December 17, 2018 2018-12-17 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sen-coons-on-gop-colleagues-quietly-the-vast-majority-of-them-say-its-not-a-witch-hunt [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on GOP colleagues: “Quietly, the vast majority of them say it's not a witch hunt” 2018-12-17 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.17.18 [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on GOP colleagues: Quietly, the vast majority of them say it's not a witch hunt Sen. Coons: The only person who is on TV and on Twitter saying they would be proud to shut the government down is our president Sen. Coons: Trump sounds more like a mob boss than president of the United States WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined CNN New Day. For the millions of people who follow closely what President Trump has to say on Twitter every day, the idea that the FBI broke into his attorney's office runs right up against the foundation of our law, which is the FBI was executing a duly authorized warrant. Law enforcement, federal, state, local law enforcement doesn't just break into people's offices. They were executing a warrant issued with the approval of a judge. This is part of how investigations work. His use of the term "Rat" for Michael Cohen and mischaracterizing this as a break-in to his attorney's office frankly makes him sound more like a mob boss than president of the United States,said Senator Coons. The only person who is on TV and on Twitter saying they would be proud to shut the government down is our president. I'm confident that leadership, Republican and Democrat, House and Senate, we want to finish our appropriations bills and want to go home. We don't want to see a government shutdown. But, in a fairly famous exchange at the White House the president said I'm willing to shut the government down over getting my wall. They haven't spent the money that was appropriated last fiscal year,saidSenator Coons. Video and audio availablehere. Excerpts from the interview are below: Sen. Coons on President Trump's tweets:The president is clearly going after the rule of law and our criminal justice system and he's undermining it. For the millions of people who follow closely what President Trump has to say on Twitter every day, the idea that the FBI broke into his attorney's office runs right up against t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-statement-on-multilateral-agreement-to-implement-paris-climate-accord Carper Statement on Multilateral Agreement to Implement Paris Climate Accord 2018-12-15 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), released the following statement regarding the agreement reached at the 24thsession of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24): For the past two weeks, leaders from nearly 200 countries have been working to reach agreement on how the world will actually implement the Paris Climate Agreement.It is a positive step forward that the international community could come together and agree to meaningful action to combat climate change on a global scale by finally putting the Paris Agreement into practice. However, this agreement is not perfect. Unfortunately, it falls well short of the steps that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determined, just months ago, are needed to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change over the next decade. The entire world must be doing even more and setting even more aggressive targets going forward to address the challenges of climate change. While we certainly can and should be doing more, today's agreement gives me hope that bolder future agreements are possible. As the rest of the world sets off to meet their Paris climate targets, the Trump Administration has decided to forego the economic opportunities of a clean energy future and instead tie our economy to the dirty fossil fuels of the past. The path this administration is taking our country down is bad for our economy and disastrous for our climate. But we don't have time to wait for President Trump and other climate deniers to come to their senses. We must continue to push forward and work in Congress to make the changes that we know are needed to protect our planet. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-morning-joe-december-14-2018 Sen. Coons joins Morning Joe December 14, 2018 2018-12-14 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sen-coons-on-us-saudi-relationship-i-think-we-should-have-a-complete-re-examination [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on US-Saudi relationship: “I think we should have a complete re-examination” 2018-12-14 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.14.18 [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on US-Saudi relationship: I think we should have a complete re-examination Sen. Coons: We're not just a country of interests. We're not just another great power. We're a country that is great because of our values. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this morning joined MSNBC's Morning Joe. When our president hears therelevant intelligence, isbriefed on the securityconsequences and on all thosechilling details and says, Idon't know, I'm not sure who tobelieve, I'm not sure what weought to do, they are a great partner,they buy a lot of weapons fromus.That suggests our relationshipwith the Saudi kingdom is rootedonly in arm sales and access toenergy.That degrades the United States.That makes us not only not greatagain but that goes at the verycore of what has made us greatwhich is being clear about ourvalues, priorities.So refusing to stand up for thefreedom of the press and defend anAmerican resident journalistweakens our country and having apartnership even following thisincident with no accountabilityfor it profoundly weakens ourcountry,said Senator Coons. Video and audio availablehere. Excerpts from the interview are below: Sen. Coons on the border:Mika, absolutely.This calls on all of us to bringa moral lens to this story, tolook at how we're treatingfamilies, families withchildren, families who arecoming to this country out ofdesperation.My predecessor, Joe Biden, whenhe was Vice President led aneffort to invest in trying tostabilize and improve thequality of life, the rule of lawin countries like Guatemala andHonduras and El Salvador so tensof thousands of parents wouldn'tfeel compelled by violence and disorder inthose countries to risk thethousands of miles of traveloften across desert to try andmake it to our southern border.That's a policy that wassupported in a bipartisan wayhere in Congress but thisadmini… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-to-trump-administration-do-not-undercut-rule-that-protects-americans-from-harmful-mercury-emissions Carper to Trump Administration: Do Not Undercut Rule That Protects Americans From Harmful Mercury Emissions 2018-12-13 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW),wroteto the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) expressing grave concerns regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed reconsideration of the Supplemental Finding about Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) which clearly states that it is appropriate and necessary for EPA to regulate mercury and toxic air pollution from coal and oil fired power plants. In the letter, Carper warns that EPA's new proposal may be ignoring or dismissing many of the clear health and environmental benefits of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. For decades, and in multiple Administrations, EPA has followed OMB's direction by providing a robust record of all the quantifiable and qualitative data for air toxic rules....Based on all the health and scientific data, Congressional intent, and historical justification and precedent, it just does not make sense for EPA to change course regarding the consideration of non-quantifiable benefits in its Supplemental Finding for MATS,Carper wrote. Carper continued,If EPA looks at all the actual benefits and updated costs of this [MATS] rule instead of persisting in its tortured effort to re-define its own legal authority and responsibility, there is no reasonable conclusion other than that it is appropriate and necessary to regulate these dangerous power plant emissions under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. I echo the call of health and environmental groups, states and the business community: Keep the entirety of the MATS rules in place. A copy of the letter can be foundHERE, and the full text of the letter is below: December 13, 2018 The Honorable Neomi Rao Administrator Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Eisenhower Executive Office Building 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20503 Dear Administrator Rao: I write with great concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed reconsideration … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-votes-to-end-u-s-military-involvement-in-yemen-condemn-saudi-crown-prince Carper Votes to End U.S. Military Involvement in Yemen, Condemn Saudi Crown Prince 2018-12-13 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate voted unanimously to condemn Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The Senate also voted, 57-38, to end U.S. military involvement in Yemen where a four-year civil war has killed tens of thousands of civilians, and pushed fourteen million more to the brink of famine. When it comes to guarding against potential threats or suspicious activity here at home, we have a saying: If you see something, say something.' We have seen Saudi Arabia wage a military intervention in Yemen that has led to the death of tens of thousands of civilians and the near starvation of millions more, including innocent children. We have seen the Saudi-led military operation refuse to improve its targeting in that conflict in order to minimize civilian deaths. We have also seen that the government of Saudi Arabia murdered Jamal Khashoggi a journalist living in America in cold blood. And in fact, our intelligence community has concluded that this particularly gruesome murder was most probably ordered directly by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. This is what we have seen. We have an obligation to say something. And today, the U.S. Senate spoke clearly and forcefully. The House of Representatives and President Trump have seen the very same evidence. They should also feel compelled to speak out and raise the alarm. The promise of doing business with any nation cannot be allowed to supersede our country's commitment to standing up for human rights and condemning lawless, evil acts. I hope that with today's vote, we have sent the world a clear message that Saudi Arabia, and any other country who would violate our core values, must be held accountable for its actions. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/after-portman-carper-psi-investigative-report-exposed-price-hikes-of-more-than-600-percent-drug-manufacturer-kal-o-reduces-price-of-naloxone-drug After Portman-Carper PSI Investigative Report Exposed Price Hikes of More Than 600 Percent, Drug Manufacturer Kalo Reduces Price of Naloxone Drug 2018-12-12 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy Drug ManufacturerKaloPlans to Take Steps to Lower the Price of its Naloxone Auto-Injector to $178 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE), the chairman and ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), today reacted to the news that drug manufacturer kaloplanned to take steps to reduce the price of its naloxone auto-injector to $178, down from $4,100 per unit. Portman and Carper previously led an investigation into the cost of the company's naloxone product which is a naloxone delivery device used to revive individuals who overdose on opioids. Life-saving drugs should not be out of reach for those that need them most, especially in the midst of a deadly public health crisis,said Senator Carper. The news that Kaleo will make their naloxone drug more affordable, following our investigation, is a step in the right direction, and this step should serve as a teachable moment for other drug manufacturers. This move also reinforces the importance of substantive and bipartisan investigations that help to ensure that the public has the full picture when it comes to such important and costly issues. I'm pleased that Senator Portman and I can work together to get at the truth, and I am confident we will continue to do the work necessary to ensure that loopholes in our system cannot be exploited at the expense of patients and taxpayers. This news is a positive step forward and I'm hopeful that it will increase access to naloxone, a critically-important overdose reversal drug that has saved tens of thousands of lives,saidSenator Portman.The Subcommittee will continue its efforts to lower prescription drug costs and protect taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid. On November 18, Portman and Carper released the findings of a new investigative report, which were also highlighted on CBS News'60 Minutes, detailing how drug manufacturer kaloexploited the opioid crisis by increasing the price of its naloxone drug EVZIO by more than 600 percent by 2016 (from th… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-on-vote-to-overturn-trump-administration-dark-money-rule-this-should-have-passed-the-senate-unanimously Carper on Vote to Overturn Trump Administration Dark Money Rule: This Should Have Passed the Senate Unanimously 2018-12-12 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate just barely passed a measure, pushed by Democrats, to overturn a Trump Administration rule weakening disclosure requirements for donors. Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) eliminated a crucial donor disclosure requirement for 501(c)(4) organizations, like the NRA making it easier for anonymous donors, including foreign agents, to funnel untraceable dark money' into our political system. That announcement came on the very same day the Justice Department revealed the arrest of a Russian national with NRA ties who has now plead guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent. In July, Senator Carper voted against President Trump's nominee to lead the IRS in light of the Trump Administration's rollback. It is a good step forward that a majority of my Senate colleagues voted today to overturn the Trump Administration's rule that allows dark money' donors, including foreign agents, to hide even more information. However, this measure should have passed the Senate unanimously. Dark money is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It is an issue that affects the very health and integrity of our democracy. The Trump Administration's decision to weaken disclosure requirements for donors is reckless and puts our political system at risk from hostile foreign intervention. Americans of all political affiliations want more transparency when it comes to our elections not less. That a vote to restore some accountability in our democracy and ensure that our electoral process isn't subject to foreign influence only passed by one vote in the U.S. Senate is disappointing. It is clear that our work to enact broader reforms that will restore confidence in our campaign finance system and in our elections following Citizens United must continue. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/judiciary-hearing-cpb-short-december-12-2018 Judiciary Hearing CPB Short December 12, 2018 2018-12-12 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-at-judiciary-customs-and-border-patrol-oversight-hearing-december-11-2018 Sen. Coons at Judiciary Customs and Border Patrol Oversight Hearing December 11, 2018 2018-12-12 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-cnn-new-day-december-12-2018 Sen. Coons joins CNN New Day December 12, 2018 2018-12-12 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/coons-blunt-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-victims-of-child-abuse-unanimously-passes-senate Coons, Blunt bipartisan bill to protect victims of child abuse unanimously passes Senate 2018-12-12 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.12.18 Coons, Blunt bipartisan bill to protect victims of child abuse unanimously passes Senate WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (Del.) and Roy Blunt (Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, commended unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children's Advocacy Centers that serve child victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. Children's Advocacy Centers protect children in Delaware and all across the country, and I'm very glad that Senator Blunt and I have been able to work across the aisle to move forward a reauthorization of the Victims of Child Abuse Act,said Coons.This legislation will ensure that law enforcement, along with health and other service providers, have the resources they need to care for children who have been abused and quickly prosecute the perpetrators of these horrific crimes. Children's Advocacy Centers support and protect thousands of our nation's most vulnerable children every year,said Blunt.I appreciate my Senate colleagues coming together to help ensure these centers and law enforcement will continue to have an important tool to bring perpetrators to justice and keep kids safe. I urge our House colleagues to follow suit and get this bill to the president's desk. The funding that the CAC of Delaware receives through the Victims of Child Abuse Act is critical to the continued operation of our three CAC's here in Delaware,said Randy Williams, CEO Child Advocacy Centers of Delaware.We rely on federal and private grant funding for over 43% of our annual revenue. We very much appreciate Senator Coons' unwavering efforts to ensure that CAC's nationwide have the financial resources required to provide essential services for victims of child abuse. Blunt and Coonsintroducedthe bill in May 2018. They previously introduced similarlegislation, which was signed into law in 2014, to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Program through 2… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sen-coons-on-possible-shutdown-that-would-be-a-striking-last-gasp-of-the-government-with-republicans-in-control-of-both-the-senate-and-the-house-and-the-white-house [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on possible shutdown: “That would be a striking last gasp of the government with Republicans in control of both the Senate and the House and the White House” 2018-12-12 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.12.18 [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on possible shutdown: That would be a striking last gasp of the government with Republicans in control of both the Senate and the House and the White House Sen. Coons on border security: The only person who is publicly saying he would be proud to shut down the government is President Trump WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations and Judiciary Committees, today joined CNN New Day to discuss the potential government shutdown. We had a hearing yesterday where the head of Customs and Border Patrol, CPB, was describing how much they built and how much more they could build. Frankly, there's an emerging gap between the leaders in the Administration responsible for border security and what they say will be wise investments and the president's grandstanding over demanding $5 billion more. The president keeps mischaracterizing the Democrats as wanting open borders and not being willing to invest in border security and that's not true,said Senator Coons. Video and audio availablehere. Excerpts from the interview are below: Sen. Coons on a possible government shutdown:I certainly hope not. The only person who is publicly saying he would be proud to shut down the government is President Trump and that would be a striking last gasp of the government with Republicans in control of both the Senate and the House and the White House. Sen. Coons on the border wall:Yes, I think that the average American, the average voter, just wishes we would work on problems to solve rather than greater problems to create. But, the reality here is that the vast majority of Democrats have voted for significant increases in border security.The fight we are having here isreally more over the symbolismof whether we are going to givePresident Trump $5 billion more for wallfunding when he already got 1.3billion this year that hasn't been spent yet for border security.We … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-coons-blunt-rochester-carney-announce-over-22-million-to-bolster-delaware-memorial-bridge Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester, Carney Announce Over $22 Million to Bolster Delaware Memorial Bridge 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Governor John Carney (all D-Del.) announced a $22.25 million Department of Transportation (DOT) Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant, awarded to Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), for improvements to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. BUILD, previously known as the TIGER grants program, provides multimodal capital grants to critical infrastructure projects. The grant, which is the largest BUILD or TIGERgrant ever awarded to Delaware, will be used to install 80-foot diameter sheet pile cells at the bases of the Delaware Memorial Bridges to better protect the structural integrity of the bridges in the event of a ship collision. I often say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that is particularly true when it comes to investing in the major assets that drivers in Delaware and all across our region depend on every day. This important infrastructure grant is a win-win for Delaware and our region,said Senator Carper.Addressing structural deficiencies on such a critical piece of infrastructure like the Memorial Bridge will improve maritime and travel safety on the Northeast I-95 corridor, support our nation's commerce industry, and create good-paying jobs here at home. I believe that a strong national infrastructure is one of the most critical parts of our economy, which is why I'll continue looking for ways in Congress to support more projects like this for our state. I'm proud of our Delegation's work to secure such a major investment for our state and want to congratulate the Delaware River and Bay Authority on a successful grant application. I'm confident we will see the benefits of this funding for years to come. Millions of motorists travel the Delaware Memorial Bridge every year, and this investment by the United States Department of Transportation is critical to protecting not just those moto… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-coons-blunt-rochester-secure-major-wins-for-delaware-farmers-in-bipartisan-farm-bill Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Secure Major Wins for Delaware Farmers in Bipartisan Farm Bill 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 includes key provisions to assist new First State farmers, protect the environment WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) lauded the major wins for Delaware farmers that the delegation was able to secure in theAgriculture Improvement Act of 2018 more commonly known as the Farm Bill. These key provisions will help provide much-needed certainty to Delaware farmers while also maintaining important environmental protections that keep our air, water and land clean and safe. The final text of bill, which was released last night, is scheduled to be voted on in both the House and Senate this week. A link to the final text of the bill is available here. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 includes an amendment originally introduced by Senators Carper and Coons and championed by the Delaware Congressional Delegation that allows farmers in the beginning stages of farming to apply for conservation funds through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP helps agricultural producers improve operations on their farms all while protecting the land, as well as air and water quality. Previously, Delaware poultry farmers in the beginning stages of farming were prevented from applying for conservation funds. In September, the Delaware Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Farm Bill negotiators to secure this win-win provision for Delaware farmers. Our farmers in Delaware and across the country are dealing with unique challenges as they work to feed consumers at home and abroad. Low commodity prices coupled with significant uncertainty surrounding this administration's trade policies have made it increasingly difficult for our farmers to make long-term planning decisions. My partners Senator Coons and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester and I fought to ensure that this year's farm bill will help farmers combat these headwinds and allow them to better plan for the future, giving them some of the c… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-slams-trump-administration-s-new-dirty-water-rule-opening-up-u-s-waterways-to-pollution Carper Slams Trump Administrations New Dirty Water Rule Opening Up U.S. Waterways to Pollution 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced a replacement proposal for the Clean Water Rule. The new proposal redefines Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act of 1972 and guts protections for certain streams and wetlands. It may seem unimaginable to young Americans today, but many of us remember a time before our country implemented strong, sensible laws to protect our waterways. Back then, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio was so polluted that it actually caught on fire. Polluters were allowed to dump toxic waste into our waterways without consequence. Garbage littered our shores. It isn't just a coincidence that this is no longer the reality in our country. We addressed the horrific water quality in many parts of our country by putting in place strong standards to protect the waterways we all share and depend on for drinking water and recreation. The Clean Water Rule sought to make clear which waters receive federal protection after several confusing and conflicting Supreme Court decisions. That rule would protect the oceans, wetlands, and waterways from which we drink and obtain our food, provide certainty for American businesses, and keep us on a sure track to enjoy nearly $500 million in economic benefits that clean water and healthy wetlands provide. The Trump Administration's replacement plan does just the opposite. It protects fewer waters from pollution and poses serious threats to the health of the public, the environment, and our economy. The Trump Administration proposal also promises uncertainty for our farmers and ranchers, and could lead to years of unwieldly litigation for the federal government and many others who use and depend on these resources. This Administration is rolling back the clock and putting its thumb on the scale to make it easier for industry to… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/photos/coons-muslim-advocates Senator Coons' remarks at Muslim Advocates Annual Gala 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet Chris Services Issues Newsroom Contact Page Top 12.11.18 Senator Coons' remarks at Muslim Advocates Annual Gala 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/photos/senator-coons-with-muslim-advocates-deputy-director-naheed-qureshi-and-president-and-executive-director-farhana-khera Senator Coons with Muslim Advocates Deputy Director Naheed Qureshi and President and Executive Director Farhana Khera 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet Chris Services Issues Newsroom Contact Page Top 12.11.18 Senator Coons with Muslim Advocates Deputy Director Naheed Qureshi and President and Executive Director Farhana Khera 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-cnn-wolf-blitzer-december-10-2018 Sen. Coons joins CNN Wolf Blitzer December 10, 2018 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:11:43Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/carper-coons-blunt-rochester-carney-announce-over-22-million-to-bolster-delaware-memorial-bridge_- Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester, Carney Announce Over $22 Million to Bolster Delaware Memorial Bridge 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.11.18 Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester, Carney Announce Over $22 Million to Bolster Delaware Memorial Bridge WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Governor John Carney (all D-Del.) announced a $22.25 million Department of Transportation (DOT) Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant, awarded to Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), for improvements to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. BUILD, previously known as the TIGER grants program, provides multimodal capital grants to critical infrastructure projects. The grant, which is the largest BUILD or TIGERgrant ever awarded to Delaware, will be used to install 80-foot diameter sheet pile cells at the bases of the Delaware Memorial Bridges to better protect the structural integrity of the bridges in the event of a ship collision. I often say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that is particularly true when it comes to investing in the major assets that drivers in Delaware and all across our region depend on every day. This important infrastructure grant is a win-win for Delaware and our region, said Senator Carper. Addressing structural deficiencies on such a critical piece of infrastructure like the Memorial Bridge will improve maritime and travel safety on the Northeast I-95 corridor, support our nation's commerce industry, and create good-paying jobs here at home. I believe that a strong national infrastructure is one of the most critical parts of our economy, which is why I'll continue looking for ways in Congress to support more projects like this for our state. I'm proud of our Delegation's work to secure such a major investment for our state and want to congratulate the Delaware River and Bay Authority on a successful grant application. I'm confident we will see the benefits of this funding for years to come. Millions of motorists travel the Delaware Memorial Bri… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-america-is-not-an-ethnicity-or-a-faith-or-a-geography-america-is-an-idea Sen. Coons: “America is not an ethnicity or a faith or a geography. America is an idea.” 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.11.18 Sen. Coons: America is not an ethnicity or a faith or a geography. America is an idea. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently delivered the keynote address at theMuslim AdvocatesAnnual Gala. In his remarks, Senator Coons explored the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead to advance civil rights for the AmericanMuslimcommunity. [T]he call of Muslim Advocates and the call of all of us, is to stop bigotry in its tracks. And the way we will do that is by confronting fear with hope and hate with love. And by finding a way to open our hearts even to those with whom we think we have nothing in common. Still holding out hope that somehow, we might find a path forward together. It's possible. It is possible,said Senator Coons. That even folks with whom I disagree on so many other issues can end up being allies in fighting for the rule of law, in fighting not just for tolerance, but for inclusion, and for the open-hearted, open-spirited America that we all know we are meant to belong to. For a photo of Senator Coons' remarks, please clickhere. For a photo of Senator Coons with Muslim Advocates Deputy Director Naheed Qureshi and President and Executive Director Farhana Khera, please clickhere. Excerpts fromSenator Coons' remarks, as delivered, are below: We're nearing the end of a wonderful dinner, a great celebration and a recognition of how much hard and good work there is to do ahead and what great things have been done so far in these past two years. My mother, when I was a child would often say to me;Hard work that is worth doing is what helps give life meaning.'Well, not long after President Trump was elected, I called my mother and said,I think I have a lot of meaning.' If I could, to Farhana Khera, thank you so much for your leadership, for your capability, for your strength, for your calmness in the face of such bigotry and such force that represents the worst in the human spirit, and for standing up in such ways that show … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-carper-coons-rep-blunt-rochester-secure-major-wins-for-delaware-farmers-in-bipartisan-farm-bill Sens. Carper, Coons, Rep. Blunt Rochester Secure Major Wins for Delaware Farmers in Bipartisan Farm Bill 2018-12-11 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.11.18 Sens. Carper, Coons, Rep. Blunt Rochester Secure Major Wins for Delaware Farmers in Bipartisan Farm Bill Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 includes key provisions to assist new First State farmers, protect the environment WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) lauded the major wins for Delaware farmers that the delegation was able to secure in theAgriculture Improvement Act of 2018 more commonly known as the Farm Bill. These key provisions will help provide much-needed certainty to Delaware farmers while also maintaining important environmental protections that keep our air, water and land clean and safe. The final text of bill, which was released last night, is scheduled to be voted on in both the House and Senate this week. A link to the final text of the bill is available here. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 includes an amendment originally introduced by Senators Carper and Coons and championed by the Delaware Congressional Delegation that allows farmers in the beginning stages of farming to apply for conservation funds through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP helps agricultural producers improve operations on their farms all while protecting the land, as well as air and water quality. Previously, Delaware poultry farmers in the beginning stages of farming were prevented from applying for conservation funds. In September, the Delaware Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Farm Bill negotiators to secure this win-win provision for Delaware farmers. Our farmers in Delaware and across the country are dealing with unique challenges as they work to feed consumers at home and abroad. Low commodity prices coupled with significant uncertainty surrounding this administration's trade policies have made it increasingly difficult for our farmers to make long-term planning decisions. My… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-sen-coons-profiled-in-the-philadelphia-inquirer-can-this-delaware-senator-save-civility-in-congress ICYMI: Sen. Coons profiled in The Philadelphia Inquirer: “Can this Delaware senator save civility in Congress?” 2018-12-10 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.10.18 ICYMI: Sen. Coons profiled in The Philadelphia Inquirer: Can this Delaware senator save civility in Congress? WASHINGTON In case you missed it,ThePhiladelphiaInquirerpublished a profile on U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) following Senator Coons'remarksat the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church last week. Read the full profile here:http://www2.philly.com/news/chris-coons-prayer-breakfast-saving-civility-20181209.html Excerpt from the profile: Coons who has a divinity degree from Yale, previously served as an elder in his Presbyterian church, and still preaches on occasional Sundays turns to religion.Faith, and looking at the two of us from a Kingdom perspective, is what gives me the opportunity to forgive,' said Coons, a 55-year-old from Wilmington with a cheery demeanor and dry wit.His recent speech and interviews show a glimpse of how one senator is trying in small ways to soothe the acrimony that has become the defining feature of American politics, overshadowing every major public debate. ### Press Contact Sean Coit at 202-224-5042 orSean_Coit@coons.senate.gov Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-coons-tillis-introduce-resolution-to-establish-a-human-rights-commission-in-honor-of-the-late-senator-mccain Sens. Coons, Tillis introduce resolution to establish a Human Rights Commission in honor of the late Senator McCain 2018-12-10 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.10.18 Sens. Coons, Tillis introduce resolution to establish a Human Rights Commission in honor of the late Senator McCain WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, today introduced a resolution to establish a John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission, modeled after the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, the resolution would create a bipartisan commission to examine human rights violations through regular hearings and briefings, and promote human rights initiatives in the Senate. Joining Senators Coons and Tillis in introducing the resolution were Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), andMarco Rubio (R-Fla.). Senator McCain was a remarkable man who used his role in the Senate to advocate for human rights and to stand up for people around the world who were denied basic freedoms. He embodied our country's values and understood the critical role of the United States in promoting human rightsacrosstheglobe,said Senator Coons.I am hopeful that we can advance this legislation and honor Senator McCain's legacy by establishing a bipartisan commission here in the Senate that is dedicated to raising awareness about human rights abusesand promoting human liberty around the world. Our late friend and colleague John McCain understood that promoting and defending human rights was a cornerstone of America's foreign policy and an inherent way of advancing American values, from leading the passage of the Magnitsky Act to sanctioning authoritarian regimes that hold contempt for human life,said Senator Tillis.It's an honor to join Senator Coons in proposing the establishment of the McCain Human Rights Commission, which will carry on John McCain's legacy of shining a light on human rights abuses across the world and building bipartisan coalitions to take action. "John McCain understood the importance of American international leadership on human rights, and… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-statement-on-president-trumps-nomination-of-heather-nauert-as-us-ambassador-to-the-united-nations Sen. Coons statement on President Trump’s nomination of Heather Nauert as US Ambassador to the United Nations 2018-12-08 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.08.18 Sen. Coons statement on President Trump's nomination of Heather Nauert as US Ambassador to the United Nations WILMINGTON Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement following President Trump's announcement that he will nominate State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: I look forward to meeting Heather Nauert and reviewing her record and qualifications for this critical post. Previous U.S. Ambassadors to the UN have brought a wealth of relevant experience to this position from time spent as successful governors, veterans of the Senate, renowned scholars of international affairs, or seasoned diplomats and rightfully so. This position represents our country's values and interests at an invaluable international forum the United States helped create to advance global peace and prosperity following World War II. I am concerned that President Trump fails to understand this and instead views the United Nations as a constraint on American power instead of an institution where he can summon the best of American leadership. I respect the role that Heather Nauert has played as State Department Spokeswoman and her time spent traveling overseas and supporting the administration's agenda under Secretaries Pompeo and Tillerson. I look forward to questioning her about what she hopes to achieve at the United Nations, her priorities, and her knowledge of international affairs. ### Press Contact Sean Coit at 202-224-5042 orSean_Coit@coons.senate.gov Print Email Tweet Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-statement-on-the-nomination-of-william-barr-as-attorney-general Sen. Coons’ statement on the nomination of William Barr as Attorney General 2018-12-08 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.08.18 Sen. Coons' statement on the nomination of William Barr as Attorney General WILMINGTON Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-author of theSpecial Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, issued the following statement following President Trump's announcement that he will nominate former Attorney General William Barr to lead the Department of Justice: A nomination for Attorney General is long-overdue, given that Matthew Whitaker has been serving as the Acting Attorney General for a month without Senate confirmation, and the number three position at the Justice Department has been occupied by an acting official since February. Having served as Attorney General in the Bush administration and in other leadership roles at the Justice Department, Mr. Barr has the background and experience you would expect of a nominee for this post. However, I am concerned that he holds, and has long advanced, a very expansive view of presidential power. Mr. Barr has cast doubt on the ability of an independent counsel to investigate the president and hold members of the executive branch accountable. He has also openly criticized the current Special Counsel investigation into Russian interference, which the President continues to attack and undermine. Mr. Barr must demonstrate that he would be an independent Attorney General committed to the Constitution and the rule of law, not the President who nominated him. It will be critical that Mr. Barr assure the Senate and the American people that the Special Counsel investigation would continue without any interference. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the confirmation process is a responsibility I take seriously. I will closely examine Mr. Barr's record, experience, and his views on issues including executive power, civil and voting rights, protections for those with pre-existing conditions, the environment, and more, to determine whether he will protect the rule of law and the rights of every American, or inste… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-slams-epa-s-decision-to-undercut-good-neighbor-requirements Carper Slams EPAs Decision to Undercut Good Neighbor Requirements 2018-12-07 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a rule providing that upwind states meet their good neighbor requirements of the 2016 Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) for ozone-season nitrogen oxides based on the outdated 2008 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone. Today's dangerous decision is another blow to downwind states like Delaware and a failure by the Trump Administration to protect families from the harmful pollution emitted from power plants in upwind states. Protecting polluters over people seems to be the new normal at EPA an agency that is supposed to be protecting Americans' health and our environment. EPA's Acting Administrator Wheeler struggled to name one action the agency is taking to address air pollution and has even said he cannot calculate what the long list of clean air rollbacks would mean for increased air pollution and downwind states. Add this decision to the list. Downwind states like Delaware, Maryland, and New York have made it clear to EPA that the Cross-State rule isn't cutting it.Upwind states can and must do more for downwind states to meet ozone attainment.In Delaware's case, we are simply asking for upwind states to flip on control technologies that are already installed in the power plant facilities and paid for by consumers.Delaware is working hard to reduce harmful emissions, but more than 90 percent of our air pollution comes from upwind states' power plants. In other words, we rely on the EPA to protect the quality of our air. For all Delawareans, especially for the 70,000 who live with asthma, I say enough is enough. EPA needs do its job and protect our health and the environment, not polluters. In June, EPA proposed to deny four petitions from the State of Delaware under Section 126(b) of the Clean Air Act seeking to reduce ozone pollution in Delaware emitted from powe… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-statement-on-education-corp-of-america-closures Carper Statement on Education Corp. of America Closures 2018-12-07 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a senior member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding the announcement that Education Corp. of America will close its more than 70 for-profit college campuses across the country. Here we go again. First it was Corinthian Colleges. Then it was ITT Tech. Now, we learn that Education Corp. of America (ECA), which operates more than 70 for-profit college campuses across the country, will be abruptly closing its doors. These closures will leave more than 4,000 student veterans in the lurch.Once again, too many taxpayer dollars have been wasted, and too many veterans have been robbed of their time and hard-earned GI Bill benefits. Enough is enough. These student veterans have fought hard to protect our country, and now we have an obligation to fight hard for them and protect them when their schools collapse through no fault of their own. In the days to come, the Department of Veterans Affairs must work closely with the Department of Education to ensure that ECA student veterans have the resources and guidance they need to continue their studies at high-quality institutions of higher learning, including community colleges. Congress also has work to do. The Forever G.I. Bill, which Congress passed last year, took important steps forward to protect student veterans affected by school closures, but the legislation does not provide the same breadth of protections that are available to federal student loan borrowers. And, if we're serious about preventing future school closures and protecting student veterans and taxpayer dollars, Congress must close the 90/10 loophole once and for all. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/as-global-carbon-emissions-reach-all-time-high-carper-blasts-epa-s-move-allowing-more-dirty-coal-pollution As Global Carbon Emissions Reach All-Time High, Carper Blasts EPAs Move Allowing More Dirty Coal Pollution 2018-12-06 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to ease carbon dioxide limits placed on new coal-fired power plants. Yesterday, as world leaders gathered in Poland to discuss serious ways to address the growing threat of climate change, scientists revealed that global emissions of carbon dioxide have reached a record high in 2018. Today, the Trump Administration's EPA has chosen to roll back a protection that requires new coal-fired power plants to capture the carbon dioxide they produce. The disconnect could not be more stark or more dangerous. Today's decision is both foolish and unnecessary. It is feasible to capture harmful emissions from power plants with technology. We know that limiting carbon emissions will protect our environment and public health. But as the world discusses meaningful solutions to deal with climate change, this EPA is choosing, instead, to exacerbate the problem by doubling down on dirty coal technology. Make no mistake: this move will not bring the coal industry back no matter what President Trump tries to say. As a West Virginia native, I know the very real challenges that coal miners are facing in today's day and age. But this regulation is not the source of the coal industry's woes market forces are.Natural gas and in many places renewables are a cheaper option. A record number of coal-fired power plants are shutting down. The industry employs just over 50,000 workers. Rolling back a protection that ensures harmful carbon emissions do not escape into our atmosphere will not reverse these trends. What we should be doing is using our energy and resources to foster new economic opportunities for communities that may be dependent on the old world order. In 2017, nearly 3.2 million Americans were working in wind, solar, energy efficiency and other clean energy jobs. Clean energy and efficiency investments m… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-statement-on-trump-administration-s-efforts-to-weaken-sage-grouse-protections Carper Statement on Trump Administrations Efforts to Weaken Sage Grouse Protections 2018-12-06 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Interior's (DOI) decision to roll back multi-state sage grouse conservation plans. Just days after the Trump Administration greenlighted seismic testing in important whale habitats, it has given yet another holiday gift to the oil industry at the expense of an imperiled species. This shortsighted move presents unnecessary harm to Western landscapes, could bring the sage grouse closer to an Endangered Species Act listing, and reverses years of bipartisan, collaborative conservation work. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-resolution-to-hold-saudi-crown-prince-accountable-for-killing-of-jamal-khashoggi Sen. Coons, bipartisan colleagues introduce resolution to hold Saudi Crown Prince accountable for killing of Jamal Khashoggi 2018-12-06 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.06.18 Sen. Coons, bipartisan colleagues introduce resolution to hold Saudi Crown Prince accountable for killing of Jamal Khashoggi Resolution also seeks to hold Saudi leader accountable for atrocities in Yemen, blockade of Qatar, use of force to intimidate rivals WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), and Todd Young (R-Indiana) introduced a Senate Resolution that holds Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman accountable for contributing to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the blockade of Qatar, the jailing of political dissidents within Saudi Arabia, the use of force to intimidate rivals, and the abhorrent and unjustified killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The United States Senate should speak in a clear, bipartisan voice to say that we will not tolerate the kinds of egregious human rights violations we've seen from Saudi leadership and, in particular, from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,said Senator Coons.The world has long looked to the United States to lead on human rights, and this is an important moment to show that we will not compromise our core values. I believe it's vitally important to U.S. national security interests to make a definitive statement about the brutal murder of an American resident Mr. Khashoggi who has three American citizen children,said Senator Graham.This resolution without equivocation definitively states that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The world is entitled to know all the perpetrators of this terrible murder, and t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-celebrates-signing-of-coast-guard-bill-protecting-marine-ecosystems Carper Celebrates Signing of Coast Guard Bill Protecting Marine Ecosystems 2018-12-04 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed into law the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, a bill reauthorizing the work of the United States Coast Guard. The Act includes a bipartisan provision negotiated by Senator Carper, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), that empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Coast Guard to protect waterways by restricting ballast water discharges of harmful pollution and invasive species. The president today signed a strong, bipartisan bill that provides the Coast Guard with the resources it needs to safely defend our shores and waterways, said Senator Carper. Beyond bolstering homeland security, the Act empowers the Coast Guard to protect marine ecosystems in Delaware and throughout the country from invasive species by enforcing strict EPA rules limiting ballast water discharges. After months of tough negotiations, I'm proud that I was able to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach an agreement that both supports marine life and provides long-term regulatory certainty to American vessel owners and mariners. Thank you to Senators Thune, Nelson, Stabenow and Portman, and the staffs of each of these members, for working with my staff and me on this important bipartisan provision. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA): Delegates the lead role in establishing standards for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel to the EPA and assigns the Coast Guard the lead role in monitoring and enforcing standards. Accommodates unique regional situations. Pacific Coast ballast water exchanges will continue and the Great Lakes may set their own basin-wide standards. Allows states to establish no-discharge zones for areas that require additional protection. Highlights of The Frank Lobiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (S. 140): Maritime drug and border enforcement includ… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-statement-on-trump-postal-task-force-recommendations Carper Statement on Trump Postal Task Force Recommendations 2018-12-04 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a senior member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released the following statement regarding the Treasury Department's proposed recommendations to reform the United States Postal Service. The long-term viability of an American institution that ensures each and every home, regardless of its zip code, receives its mail, is an incredibly important issue that all of us should care about. In April, I welcomed the President's engagement on this time-sensitive issue. However, for the better part of 2018, the President's task force has been crafting recommendations in secret that the public has only just seen today. Again, I am always glad to have more people involved and working to solve this imminently fixable problem, and Presidential leadership could help us finally enact meaningful legislation to bolster the Postal Service. But I believe we need to be working together in a transparent way and building off legislation that is the result of years of hard work and scrutiny to address the Postal Service's immediate challenges. We know that the Postal Service's financial situation is in a downward spiral. We know we need to act now, and I would like to get to work putting much needed reforms, like those that have bipartisan support in the House and Senate, into place. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-to-wheeler-as-cop24-begins-distorting-climate-science-report-runs-afoul-of-commitment-you-made-to-me Carper to Wheeler as COP24 Begins: Distorting Climate Science Report Runs Afoul of Commitment You Made to Me 2018-12-04 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C.- As the 24thsession of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) begins, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW),wroteto Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to express grave concerns regarding his recent public comments with respect to the Trump Administration's release of the Fourth National Climate Assessment. The nearly 1,700-page scientific report, congressionally-mandated and issued the day after Thanksgiving by 13 federal agencies and over 300 federal experts, highlights the devastating impacts climate change has on human health, the economy, and the environment. The report also highlights some of the vulnerabilities in communities across the country such as deteriorating infrastructure, stressed ecosystems, and economic inequality that will leave certain areas more susceptible to the most damaging effects of climate change. The letter notes that since the report was released, comments made by President Trump, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Acting Administrator Wheeler sought to undermine its findings.In the letter, Ranking Member Carper also demanded documents that detail EPA's views and involvement in shaping the Trump Administration's response to its own report. If the United States continues to ignore the dangers of climate change, the costs for all Americans will be devastating,wrote Senator Carper.This isn't an alarmist prediction. It doesn't come from some left-leaning organization, and it doesn't come from talk radio. It comes directly from our nation's leading scientists. We may not all agree about what to do to address these dire warnings, but it disturbs me greatly that counter to the commitment you made to me during your confirmation hearing, you seem to be actively working to undermine and distort the scientific evidence itself. The text of the letter can be found below andHERE. December 3, 2018 The H… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/following-request-from-carper-and-udall-epa-oig-agrees-to-broaden-investigation-into-legally-questionable-loophole-for-high-polluting-glider-trucks Following Request from Carper and Udall, EPA OIG Agrees to Broaden Investigation into Legally Questionable Loophole for High-Polluting Glider Trucks 2018-12-04 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agenciesissued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Inspector General (EPA OIG) agreed to expand the scope of its project regarding the repeal of emission requirements for glider vehicles, glider engines, and glider kits in response to the senators' request. We have reason to believe EPA's decision to exempt manufacturers of the dirtiest trucks on the road from the Clean Air Act's public health protections disregarded the health and economic effects and violated requirements of the rulemaking process, said the lawmakers. We have questions that we want answers to regarding industry's involvement and legal, procedural, and technical irregularities in the proposal. We're glad the Office of the Inspector General has agreed to get to the bottom of this and hope to receive its findings in a timely manner. Specifically, Senators Carper and Udall asked EPA OIG to broaden the current audit to include investigations into the discredited, industry-funded study former EPA Administrator Pruitt used to support his decision to deregulate glider vehicles; the apparent decision to rush signature and publication of the likely illegal proposal without EPA having reviewed likely health effects associated with deregulating the rule; last minute changes to the proposed rule purposefully designed to avoid legally required health and economic analyses; and the promise Mr. Pruitt made on his last day to the glider industry that it would not be required to comply with current glider rules. Yesterday's announcement covered portions of the Senators' request. A copy of the Senators request for an investigation can be found HERE. In March, Senators Carper and Udall raised concerns over EPA's decision to repeal air emissions standards for high-polluting glid… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/photo-release-during-visit-to-indian-river-inlet-station-carper-highlights-coast-guard-reauthorization-that-protects-waterways-marine-ecosystems During Visit to Indian River Inlet Station, Carper Highlights Coast Guard Reauthorization that Protects Waterways, Marine Ecosystems 2018-12-03 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy Bipartisan legislation ensures Coast Guard has tools needed to continue safeguarding Delaware waters REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), was at the Indian River Inlet Coast Guard Station to celebrate passage of a bill that reauthorizes the work of the U.S. Coast Guard. This legislation, which President Trump is set to sign into law in the coming days, provides the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard with the tools and resources they need to continue safeguarding our waters. Specifically, the bill includes: Increases to operational and maintenance funding for their personnel and boats; Funds for shore side infrastructure improvements; Updates to leave policies Coast guard members and their families rely on; Additional clarity on inspections and enforcement procedures for vessel boardings. The Coast Guard does an unbelievable job protecting our waterways, defending our borders, and executing missions in the most severe conditions. I'm proud that the Coast Guard Authorization Act which will be signed by the President this week provides the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard with the tools they need to keep doing that incredibly important work, said Senator Carper. The provisions included in this bill, including increased funding for personnel and boats and funding for shore side infrastructure improvements, will go a long way at a small station like the one here at Indian River Inlet that serves the First State. Additionally, provisions like those that update the leave policies that Coast Guard members and their families depend on are simply the right thing to do, especially for those who work to keep all of us safe. At the same time, this bill also protects waters here in Delaware and across our country from the environmental risks posed by the spread of invasive species in ballast water. In a divided Congress, we found a responsible way to pass the Coast Guard Reauthorization agreem… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-sen-coons-in-the-news-journal-congress-has-a-chance-to-pass-major-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform-now ICYMI: Sen. Coons in The News Journal: “Congress has a chance to pass major, bipartisan criminal justice reform now” 2018-12-03 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.03.18 ICYMI: Sen. Coons in The News Journal: Congress has a chance to pass major, bipartisan criminal justice reform now WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, published an op-ed inThe News Journalon criminal justice reform. Congress has a chance to pass major, bipartisan criminal justice reform now By Chris Coons At a time when Congress, the White House, and the nation seem hopelessly divided, there is one critical, even difficult issue on which many Republicans and Democrats, conservative and progressive groups, and President Trump agree: criminal justice reform. The American criminal justice system is broken, and it has been for a long time. The mass incarceration explosion resulting from the war on drugs and tough on crime policies of the last four decades has left us with prisons that are overcrowded and costly and inmates that are often unfairly sentenced and forgotten. For too long, our system has focused too much on criminalization and incarceration and too little on justice and rehabilitation. Recognizing the urgent need to address this disparity, a remarkable bipartisan coalition in Congress has worked together for several years to craft legislation that would make the criminal justice system fairer, and now, we're ready to vote on the bill and have the president sign it into law. To read the full column, clickhere. ### Press Contact Sean Coit at 202-224-5042 orSean_Coit@coons.senate.gov Print Email Tweet Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-urge-us-news-to-consider-a-schools-role-in-spurring-social-mobility-in-2020-college-rankings Senators urge U.S. News to consider a school’s role in spurring social mobility in 2020 college rankings 2018-12-03 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 12.03.18 Senators urge U.S. News to consider a school's role in spurring social mobility in 2020 college rankings WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) today sent a letter urging U.S. News & World Report to further change their methodology for college rankings by more expansively considering a school's diversity, inclusion, and representation. U.S. News may claim that it now adequately addresses economic diversity by adjusting its new Pell metrics by the share of the student body receiving such grants. But this adjustment still leaves in the background the question of how widely schools open their doors to such students,the Senators wrote. Moreover, it fails to consider the importance of diversity, inclusion, and representation in its own right. At the schools U.S. News rates most highly, this approach means the heart of the problem remains inadequately considered. Without an exclusive metric assessing the access a college or university provides to historically underrepresented students, deep inequities will continue to be masked. The letter is availablehereand is copied below. December 3, 2018 Mr. Brian Kelly Editor U.S. News & World Report 1050 Thomas Jefferson St NW Washington, DC 20007 Dear Mr. Kelly: We write regarding the recent updates to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News) Best Colleges Rankings. While the 2019 edition includes modest improvements to reflect colleges' role in boosting social mobility, we urge you to consider further changes to your methodology by more expansively considering a school's diversity, inclusion, and representation. We join others in questioning whether the changes represent a true embrace of social mobility, as your ranking system still fails to consider the extent to which colleges enroll historically underrepresented students. As the leading mass media ranking outlet, we fear U.S. News continues to c… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/12/carper-statement-on-the-passing-of-president-george-h-w-bush Carper Statement on the Passing of President George H.W. Bush 2018-12-01 2018 2018-12 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, (D-Del.) released the following statement on the passing of the 41st President of the United States, President George Herbert Walker Bush. I am saddened to learn of the passing of President George H.W. Bush. He was a true public servant who dedicated his life to our country as a decorated Navy pilot in World War II, as a representative for the people of Texas, as a diplomat, as a leader in our intelligence community, as Vice President and as our President. He loved this country. He believed in our institutions and in the strength of the American spirit. And he exemplified what it truly means to be a leader. Above all, though, President George H.W. Bush was a good man who treated others with kindness and respect regardless of their politics. He knew we could disagree without being disagreeable. We could all learn from the example he set, and we could use more like him right now, on both sides of the aisle. There will be much more that I will want to say about President Bush's legacy in the days and weeks to come as we honor his memory. For now, Martha and I send our sincerest condolences to the Bush family and pray that President George H.W. Bush may rest in peace. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/carper-whitehouse-decry-epa-inspector-general-s-decision-to-close-probes-into-former-epa-chief-pruitt Carper, Whitehouse Decry EPA Inspector Generals Decision to Close Probes into Former EPA Chief Pruitt 2018-11-30 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), raised serious concerns after the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General (EPA OIG) released its semi-annual report to Congress that includes its decision to close two investigations requested by the Senators into former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. The EPA OIG's report cites his resignation as reason for the office's inability to complete the investigations. Scott Pruitt set a new bar for unethical behavior by a Trump cabinet official, and that's saying a lot. We appreciate the problems of investigating Pruitt's abject abuse of government position once he's fled EPA, but walking away leaves the full story of what took place in EPA's highest position untold, the senators said. The whole truth matters, and the Inspector General office should do all it can to make sure we never see behavior like this at EPA again. Investigations requested by Senators Carper and Whitehouse that the EPA OIG terminated include: In May, Senators Carper, Whitehouse, and Udall wrote a letter to EPA OIG to request an investigation into potential violations of federal regulations by Pruitt during a real estate search by a top aide. In June, Senators Carper, Whitehouse, and Udall wrote a letter to EPA OIG to request an investigation into Pruitt's use of his official position to pursue family business opportunities. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/release-carper-slams-trump-administration-s-approval-of-seismic-tests-off-delaware-coast Carper Slams Trump Administrations Approval of Seismic Tests Off Delaware Coast 2018-11-30 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, slammed the Trump Administration's decision to approve seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Marine Fisheries Service has awarded permits to five marine contractors to survey and conduct seismic tests in the waters between Delaware and Central Florida. These seismic tests are conducted to search for oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean floor and are often a pre-cursor to offshore oil drilling. Delaware has made clear its opposition to seismic testing because our state's economy relies on the health and wellbeing of our coasts. Today's proposal is a threat to our economy, our environment, and our way of life all along the East Coast,said Senator Carper.Clean coastal waters and the ocean ecosystems they support draw millions of visitors from around the country and billions of dollars for our coastal communities. This decision unnecessarily puts those economic drivers at risk, along with the vibrant marine life that inhabits the waters off of our coast. I have long advocated for a strategy to meet our country's energy needs as we move toward greater energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, but today's proposal to open up seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean is shortsighted and tone-deaf. Just days after 13 federal agencies issued a dire warning about the impacts of climate change and the need to change course, the Trump Administration has taken yet another major step backward. In July 2017, Senators Carper and Coons sent aletterto the U.S. Department of Commerce opposing issuance of permits to companies to conduct seismic surveys in the Atlantic, citing 40 state and local elected officials from Delaware to the Department of Interior in opposition to proposed seismic surveys. In February 2018, Senator Carper took to the Senate floor tohighlightpotentially devastating effects of the Trump Administration's proposal to open up parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to oi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-cnn-new-day-november-30-2018 Sen. Coons joins CNN New Day November 30, 2018 2018-11-30 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/one-month-after-tree-of-life-shooting-carper-bipartisan-senators-push-to-protect-worship-centers One Month after Tree Of Life Shooting, Carper, Bipartisan Senators Push to Protect Worship Centers 2018-11-29 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy Lawmakers Call For Robust Community Safety Funding WASHINGTON, D.C. As the nation continues to grieve the deadliest attack on the American Jewish community in United States' history, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), along with a group of bipartisan senators, is pressing for robust community safety funding in any FY19 appropriations package. Specifically, the lawmakers have called for adequate allocations to the DHS Nonprofit Security Grant program which helps nonprofit organizations like religious institutions, schools, and community centers make security improvements. We regret that nonprofit organizations especially religious institutions, schools, and community centers have become targets for violent attacks and believe we have a responsibility to address the motivating factors behind these threats, wrote the Senators. But as long as the threat remains, we must take steps to ensure these facilities have the necessary resources to improve their security if they wish to do so. While we recognize much more remains to be done beyond investing in security, we urge your strong support for robust funding of the Nonprofit Security Grant program in the FY19 appropriations cycle and stand ready to work with you on this issue. Senator Carper was joined by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), M. Mike Rounds (D-S.D.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.). A ful… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/video-carper-highlights-grim-findings-of-climate-report-calls-for-decisive-action VIDEO: Carper Highlights Grim Findings of Climate Report, Calls for Decisive Action 2018-11-28 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, spoke on the Senate floor today to highlight the findings of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, a report by 13 federal agencies laying out the troubling impacts of climate change on environmental quality, public health, and economic growth. Senator Carper stressed that for those unfazed by the troubling environmental effects of climate change, they might be moved to action by the serious, long-term threats it poses to job creation and economic productivity. Despite the Trump Administration's best efforts to bury this report on a Friday of a holiday weekend, those of us based in reality are going to make sure that the clear facts in it are broadcast far and wide,said Senator Carper.The numbers and the facts don't lie. The reality of climate change is scary, especially for a coastal state like Delaware the lowest lying state in our country. But the facts that this report so clearly lays out affect all of us. It doesn't matter if you are from a coastal state or from a landlocked state; if you care about public health or the environment; or if you care about our economy or national security this report says every sector of our economy and every person living in this country will be affected by climate change if we do nothing. We don't have to choose between all this doom and gloom and a strong economy,Senator Carper continued.We can address the gloom and doom and add a lot of jobs. We ought to do this. This can be a win-win. We ought to seize the day. A statement from Senator Carper after the release of the report can be readHERE. Today's speech can be viewed by clickingHERE. Below are Senator Carper's full remarks, as prepared for delivery: Mr. President, welcome back. I hope you were able to get home last week for Thanksgiving and spend some time enjoying what I like to call the holiday's 6 Fs: Family, friends, food fun, faith and football! I hope all Americans were able to enjoy some combin… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-delivers-remarks-on-the-special-counsel-november-28-2018 Sen. Coons delivers remarks on the special counsel November 28, 2018 2018-11-28 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-morning-joe-november-28-2018 Sen. Coons joins Morning Joe November 28, 2018 2018-11-28 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-coons-calls-on-president-trump-to-work-with-allies-at-g20-summit-to-urge-chinese-president-xi-jinping-to-end-chinas-discriminatory-economic-practices Senator Coons calls on President Trump to work with allies at G20 summit to urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to end China’s discriminatory economic practices 2018-11-28 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.28.18 Senator Coons calls on President Trump to work with allies at G20 summit to urge Chinese President Xi Jinping to end China's discriminatory economic practices WASHINGTON Prior to the G20 summit in Buenos Aires and a meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee,released the following statement calling onPresident Trump to work with our European and Asian allies to pressure China to change its discriminatory trade practices such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and cyber hacking of foreign firms. In Buenos Aires this weekend, President Trump should exercise leadership and work with those who share our values and our preference for free markets and democratic governance to pressure China to end its discriminatory practices and further open up its economy.By imposing tariffs on trusted allies like Canada, Sweden, Germany, and South Africa under the guise of national security concerns, President Trump has divided us from our closest partners in these efforts. This summit is an opportunity to repair those relationships and work together to pressure China. President Trump is right to have zeroed in on China's unfair trade practices, but a trade warwithChina isn't good for the world's economy over the long term, and it's not good for the U.S. economy either. The G20 summit inArgentinaprovides the United States with an invaluable opportunity toend the tariffs and begin a real negotiation to change the way the world trades with China. Politically, economically, and ideologically we're competing with China more often than we are cooperating. We need to seek areas where we can partner with China. In areas where we cannot, the United States is best served by emphasizing American values and deepening and strengthening relationships with allies and partners around the world. ### Press Contact Sean Coit at 202-224-5042 orSean_Coit@coons.senate.gov … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-coons-lankford-pen-letter-urging-delay-of-new-tax-liabilities-on-nonprofits Sens. Coons, Lankford pen letter urging delay of new tax liabilities on nonprofits 2018-11-28 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.28.18 Sens. Coons, Lankford pen letter urging delay of new tax liabilities on nonprofits WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.), co-chairs of the National Prayer Breakfast and the Senate Prayer Breakfast, sent a letter totheSecretary of the Treasury,StevenMnuchin, expressing their concerns about the challenges faced by tax-exempt organizations, such as charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and foundations,regarding compliance withnew tax liabilities. Enacted in December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act applies the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) of 21% to tax-exempt organizations in an unprecedented manner. Historically, nonprofits have paid UBIT if they operated unrelated businesses or trades.However, under the new law,nonprofits must now use a significantly different method of calculating and reporting the income and loss for each unrelated business or trade in ways that are unclear. The new law also directs nonprofits to pay UBIT on employee benefits, such as transit passes, parking spots, and provided meals for the first time. Nonprofits in Oklahoma, Delaware, and all across the country provide countless services to Americans in need, including combating homelessness, lifting faith, providing health care to the medically underserved, and improving outcomes for disadvantaged youth,the Senators wrote.Employees of nonprofits often have the same access to parking and meals that others in the community have because the nonprofit serves the whole community. Eating a meal with the homeless in their shelter should not be a taxable benefit for their employees; it is part of the work of the nonprofit. Requiring these organizations to pay a federal tax on these employee benefits, something they have never been required to do before, will cause them to not only face an increased operating cost, but also an administrative burden. The new tax liabilities took effect on January 1, 2018, giving nonprofits just a few days over the holidays to understand and adapt… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/carper-cheers-house-passage-of-coast-guard-bill-protecting-waterways Carper Cheers House Passage of Coast Guard Bill Protecting Waterways 2018-11-27 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement after the House passed an amended bill reauthorizing the U.S. Coast Guard. The bill includes the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) a bipartisan measure Senator Carper helped negotiate that will protect waterways and marine life in Delaware and throughout the United States from invasive species and harmful pollution. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 94-6 earlier this month and is expected to be signed into law early next month. Today, we are one step closer to getting a strong, bipartisan Coast Guard reauthorization bill signed into law, said Senator Carper. First and foremost, this bill provides the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard with the tools they need to safeguard our waters. At the same time, this bill protects waters across our country from the threat of invasive species found in ballast water and provides important regulatory certainty for vessel owners and mariners. This bill proves that we can keep our vessels moving in and out of our waterways while protecting our environment and marine life at the same time. Thank you to Senators Thune, Nelson, Stabenow and Portman, and the staffs of each of these members, for working with me and my staff on this important bipartisan bill that is now on its way to the President's desk. I'm glad we were able to get this important bill across the finish line here in Congress, and I would urge the President to act swiftly to sign this legislation into law. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA): Delegates the lead role in establishing standards for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and assigns the Coast Guard the lead role in monitoring and enforcing standards. Accommodates unique regional situations. Pacific Coast ballast water exchanges will continue and the Great Lakes may set their own basin-wide standards. Allows… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-bbc-november-27-2018 Sen. Coons joins BBC November 27, 2018 2018-11-27 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-coons-young-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-support-entrepreneurs Sens. Coons, Young introduce bipartisan bill to support entrepreneurs 2018-11-27 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.27.18 Sens. Coons, Young introduce bipartisan bill to support entrepreneurs Legislation expands access to successful NSF innovation program WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Todd Young (R-Indiana) introduced theInnovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018today. This bipartisan bill encourages broader participation in the successful National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program and provides additional training for innovators to learn how to turn their research into a company. Training our most promising entrepreneurs to navigate the transition from the laboratory to the marketplace supports U.S.-grown startups and small businesses and increases our competitiveness on the global stage,said Senator Coons.We wisely invest billions of taxpayer dollars every year into scientific research and development, and this legislation builds a bridge for our best research to directly benefit society. Entrepreneurs fuel Indiana's small business community and have the power to transform our lives,said Senator Young.This legislation will support Hoosier entrepreneurs by investing in research and innovation, and empowering individuals to turn their ideas into products and businesses. I-Corps connects scientists and engineers with the technological, entrepreneurial, and business communities necessary to move discoveries from the laboratory to the market. TheInnovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018expands the eligible pool of applicants for the I-Corps program, allowing the participation of aspiring entrepreneurs that have already demonstrated their merit by being awarded Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer grants from any federal agency. The bill also authorizes a Phase II I-Corps program that would provide additional hands-on, immersive learning classes for participants who have already gone through the current I-Corps training. This Phase II course would h… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/carper-following-u-s-climate-report-ignoring-facts-is-costing-this-country-lives-money-and-jobs Carper Following U.S. Climate Report: Ignoring Facts Is Costing This Country Lives, Money, and Jobs 2018-11-26 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), released the following statement regarding the major climate report issued by 13 federal agencies on Friday that highlights the devastating impacts climate change has on human health, the economy, and the environment. The nearly 1,700-page report also highlights some of the vulnerabilities in communities across the country such as deteriorating infrastructure, stressed ecosystems, and economic inequality that will leave certain areas more susceptible to the most damaging effects of climate change. The truth of the matter is that the Trump Administration tried to bury one of the most devastating climate reports in our nation's history over a long holiday weekend. While Americans were celebrating with loved ones, President Trump hoped that we would miss the alarming conclusions from scientists within his own government about the ever-increasing threats of climate change. But we did notice, and, unfortunately for President Trump, facts are stubborn things. Countries around the world, almost all credible scientists, and the United States military have warned us time and time again of the costs and dangers of inaction. This weekend, 13 federal agencies within the Trump Administration reiterated the same alarming conclusion: inaction on climate change is costing this country lives, money, and jobs. It is not a matter of if climate change is happening,' it's a matter of how bad will it be.' Extreme weather events cost this country billions every year, a number that, according to this report, will skyrocket if we continue to do nothing about climate change.We can no longer afford to sit on our hands, and that's why, as Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I stand ready to work with my counterparts on both sides of the aisle here in the Senate and in the House to find serious ways to reduce our emissions and prepare our nation's infrastructure for what we know is next. Whether … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/doing-what-s-right-not-what-s-easy-or-expedient Doing whats right, not whats easy or expedient 2018-11-19 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy Over the past week and a half, the news has been dominated by post-election coverage. But behind all the headlines about politics, serious negotiations were wrapping up on a bipartisan bill that was months in the making and means big things for marine life and clean waterways in Delaware and across our country. On Wednesday, by an overwhelming vote of 94-6, the Senate passed a major bill reauthorizing the critical work of our United States Coast Guard. The reauthorization makes sure that the men and women of the Coast Guard have the tools and resources needed to protect our shores, restrict the flow of illicit goods and help Americans in need of emergency rescue at sea. For the Coast Guard contingent based at the Indian River Inlet, this bill means more funding for cutting edge watercraft, easier access to health care, improved leave policies and clarity on inspections and enforcement procedures. This reauthorization alone is good news for our service members and our security. But within this bill is another measure that I'm particularly proud of one that will help ensure clean water and healthy ecosystems for the shipping channels of Delaware, like those leading to and from the Port of Wilmington. Known as the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, or VIDA, this provision directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to craft new, strong rules to limit pollution and invasive species that boats can release into American waterways. VIDA empowers both the Coast Guard and states with the tools they need to enforce these new standards making sure there is always a cop on the beat in our waterways with the ability to protect our precious resources. As a former governor, I'm proud that this bill also gives local leaders a louder voice when it comes to the protection of their waters. VIDA allows governors in the Great Lakes to establish their own guidelines for the entire basin, and it lets leaders block off particularly vulnerable areas as off-limits to all ballast discharges. Getting to this point on VIDA wa… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/portman-carper-unveil-new-investigative-report-on-60-minutes-reveal-drug-manufacturer-profiting-off-taxpayers-during-opioid-crisis Portman, Carper Unveil New Investigative Report on 60 Minutes, Reveal Drug Manufacturer Profiting Off Taxpayers During Opioid Crisis 2018-11-19 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. A new report that aired tonight on CBS News'60 Minuteshighlighted the findings of anew investigative reportreleased this evening by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE), the chairman and ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), into the cost of naloxone the prescription drug used to revive individuals who overdose on opioids. The new PSIreportdetails how drug manufacturer kaloexploited the opioid crisis by increasing the price of its naloxone drug EVZIO by more than 600 percent by 2016 (from the initial price of $575 per unit to $3,750 and then to $4,100 11 months later), launching a new distribution model planning to capitalize on the opportunity of opioid overdose at epidemic levels. The company's sales force focused on ensuring doctors' offices signed necessary paperwork indicating that EVZIO was medically necessary, ensuring the drug would be covered by government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The plan worked, resulting in increased costs to taxpayers, to date, totaling more than $142 million in just the last four years, despite the fact that less costly versions of naloxone exist. Naloxone is a critically important overdose reversal drug that our first responders have used to save tens of thousands of lives,saidSenator Portman.Thefact that one company dramatically raised the price of its naloxonedrug and costtaxpayers tens of millions of dollars in increased drug costs, all during a national opioid crisis no less, is simply outrageous. The Subcommittee will continue its efforts to protect taxpayers from drugmanufacturers that are exploiting loopholes in the Medicare and Medicaid system in order to profit from a nationalopioid crisis. Our country is grappling with one of themost lethal public health crisis in our history. The opioid crisis has afflicted communities across our country indiscriminately wealthy and poor areas, urban and rural areas, on the coasts and in the heartland. Last year, first responders in New Castle County the… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-sens-coons-portman-lead-bipartisan-letter-to-president-trump-supporting-us-uk-trade-agreement-post-brexit Sens. Coons, Portman lead bipartisan letter to President Trump supporting US-UK trade agreement post-Brexit 2018-11-19 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.19.18 Sens. Coons, Portman lead bipartisan letter to President Trump supporting US-UK trade agreement post-Brexit WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), co-chairs of the Senate U.K. Trade Caucus, today led a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to President Trump supporting a bilateral trade agreement with the United Kingdom after its departure from the European Union next year. The economic ties between the United States and the United Kingdom are longstanding and significant. The United Kingdom is the fourth-largest export market for American goods and services, and the United Kingdom is our seventh-largest trading partner overall,the Senators wrote. We believe a trade agreement with the United Kingdom would confirm and enhance our commercial partnership and our security alliance, and we look forward to working with you and your administration to expand opportunities for Made in America products to be sold to our friends and allies in the United Kingdom. Coons and Portman launched the Senate UK Trade Caucus in May to build congressional support for a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. The letter can be read in its entiretyhere. November 16, 2018 President Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump, We were pleased to receive the notification of your intent to initiate trade negotiations with the United Kingdom after its departure from the European Union next year. The economic ties between the United States and the United Kingdom are longstanding and significant. The United Kingdom is the fourth-largest export market for American goods and services, and the United Kingdom is our seventh-largest trading partner overall. Notably, the United States has a $15 billion trade surplus with the United Kingdom. The United States has no better ally than the United Kingdom. Our alliance is rooted in shared values and common political and cultural traditions, and it is strengthe… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-coons-tillis-join-vp-pence-in-condemning-violence-against-burmas-rohingya Sens. Coons, Tillis join VP Pence in condemning violence against Burma’s Rohingya 2018-11-19 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.19.18 Sens. Coons, Tillis join VP Pence in condemning violence against Burma's Rohingya Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, issued the following statement in response to Vice President Pence's criticism of the treatment of Burma's Rohingya. As co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, we have repeatedly condemned the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma's Rakhine State and called on the Government of Burma to releaseReuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. We applaud Vice President Pence for affirming the United States' commitment to a free and independent press and delivering a strong criticism of the treatment of the Rohingya during his meeting with Burmese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at the ASEAN Summit on Wednesday. We join the Vice President in calling on the Government of Burma to hold the perpetrators of violence against the Rohingya accountable, and we are grateful to the people of Bangladesh for welcoming the more than 700,000 Rohingya who have been forced to flee their homes. We remain committed to supporting these refugees and urge the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that any repatriation of refugees to Burma is voluntary, safe, and dignified. The Government of Burma should take immediate steps to improve conditions for the Rohingya and other ethnic and religious minorities in Burma, including providing a pathway to citizenship for the Rohingya. ### Press Contact Sean Coit at 202-224-5042 orSean_Coit@coons.senate.gov Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/carper-statement-on-trump-s-intent-to-nominate-andrew-wheeler-for-epa-administrator Carper Statement on Trumps Intent to Nominate Andrew Wheeler for EPA Administrator 2018-11-16 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Trump's announcement that he intends to nominate Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I have a friend who, when asked how he's doing, always says, Compared to what?' Compared to Administrator Pruitt, Mr. Wheeler is better. Compared to Administrators Ruckelshaus or Whitman, he's not doing nearly as well. If the President intends to nominate Andrew Wheeler to be the Administrator of EPA, then Mr. Wheeler must come before our committee so that members can look at his record as Acting Administrator objectively to see if any improvements have been made at the agency since he took the helm. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/carper-whitehouse-lead-senators-in-demanding-documents-on-epa-s-abrupt-dismissal-of-scientists-from-advisory-committees Carper, Whitehouse Lead Senators in Demanding Documents on EPAs Abrupt Dismissal of Scientists from Advisory Committees 2018-11-15 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led a group of Democratic senators to demand information and documents about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) recent dismissal and appointment of members to its Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), its decision to disband two key scientific air pollution advisory panels, and its invitation for public comment on the nomination of 174 scientists to EPA's Science Advisory Board. The senators point out that the scientists on federal advisory committees are supposed to provide independent, scientific, and technical advice to EPA administrators on major agency programs. These actions, taken together with past similar actions, could have the effect of jeopardizing the environment and human health, because they are likely to result in the replacement of renowned scientists who can provide EPA with advice on how to best protect people from the effects of environmental pollution with less qualified, industry representatives who may also have conflicts of interest, the senators wrote. The letter was also signed by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Margaret Hassan (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (DMd.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.). A copy of the letter can be found HERE, and the full text of the letter is below: November 15, 2018 The Honorable Andrew Wheeler Acting Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 1301 Constitution Ave. NW Washington, DC 20460 Dear Acting Administrator Wheeler: We write to request information about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) recent dismissal and appointment of members to its Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), its decision to dis… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/epw-hearing-statement EPW Hearing Statement: Hearing on the Nomination of Alexandra Dunn to be Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 2018-11-15 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held the hearing, Examining Funding Needs for Wildlife Conservation, Recovery, and Management.Below is the opening statement of Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-Del.), as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our Committee has held quite a few hearings this Congress on wildlife management issues. At each of these hearings, I noticed one major area of agreement that wildlife conservation is severely underfunded. States, federal agencies and partners would be able to do far more to protect and recover species with additional financial resources. Accordingly, the topic for today's hearing is an appropriate culmination of our Committee's consideration of wildlife matters this Congress. As we have heard at our previous hearings, global wildlife populations have fallen by 60 percent since 1970 for many reasons, including pollution, deforestation and climate change. Current rates of species extinction are up to 1,000 times the natural rate of extinction. Once species are gone, they are gone forever. And we do not even know the long-term effects this biodiversity loss will have on our planet. We must act sooner rather than later to address this extinction crisis by developing a comprehensive wildlife funding strategy and finding a way to pay for it. I supported both the WILD Act and the HELP for Wildlife Act, each of which reauthorized valuable wildlife conservation programs. However, I believe that Congress may have to go beyond the status quo of simply reauthorizing programs. And while sportsmen and women have contributed a great deal to wildlife conservation, we can no longer rely solely upon their contributions as the only source of dedicated wildlife conservation funding. As our Committee wraps up this session of Congress and looks to the next, I hope we will consider a bolder wildlife funding strategy going forward that addresses funding needs for both state-managed and federally-managed species. States and federal agencies … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-cnn-new-day-november-15-2018 Sen. Coons joins CNN New Day November 15, 2018 2018-11-15 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/carper-thune-and-portman-applaud-senate-passage-of-coast-guard-bill-protecting-waterways Carper, Thune and Portman Applaud Senate Passage of Coast Guard Bill Protecting Waterways 2018-11-14 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C.Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee and senior member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee with jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard, and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who was instrumental in developing changes to help address concerns of Great Lake states, issued the following statements after the Senate's 94-6 vote to pass an amended bill reauthorizing the Coast Guard and enacting the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) -- a bipartisan measure that will protect waterways and marine life in Delaware and throughout the United States from invasive species and harmful pollution. VIDA directs the EPA to craft new rules limiting ballast discharges of toxic pollution and invasive species, and empowers the U.S. Coast Guard to enforce these standards. It also gives states the ability to establish no-discharge zones for vulnerable areas within their borders. Today, we are one step closer to getting this strong bipartisan compromise signed into law. This bill protects waters across our country from the environmental and economic risk of the spread of invasive species contained in ballast water, while also providing regulatory certainty for vessel owners and mariners. To reach this agreement, my colleagues and I did not settle for what was easy or what was expedient. These improvements have taken a great deal of time and energy, they are the right thing to do,said Carper.Specifically, it will reduce the risks posed by ballast water discharges that enter our waterways, minimize the likelihood of introducing invasive species along our coasts and in the Great Lakes, while still ensuring these discharges are regulated under the Clean Water Act. This bill shows that we can keep our vessels moving in and out of our waterways while protecting our environment and marine life at the same time. As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Commit… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-morning-joe-november-14-2018 Sen. Coons joins Morning Joe November 14, 2018 2018-11-14 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sens-coons-flake-media-availability-post-uc-november-14-2018 Sens. Coons, Flake Media Availability Post-UC November 14, 2018 2018-11-14 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-coons-applauds-passage-of-the-coast-guard-reauthorization Senator Coons applauds passage of the Coast Guard reauthorization 2018-11-14 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.14.18 Senator Coons applauds passage of the Coast Guard reauthorization WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, applauded Senate passage of S.140, the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. The bill authorizes funding for the U.S. Coast Guard for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and includes legislation that Senator Coons co-sponsored to promote maritime commerce the Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). Vessels take on and discharge water to provide stability, and VIDA will lead to uniform standards for these discharges. I am pleased that the Senate authorized strong funding levels for the Coast Guard to support its dedicated members and their families in carrying out their missions, said Sen. Coons. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay and the broader Fifth Coast Guard District play a critical role in advancing our economic and national security by protecting Delaware's coastline and marine life, and supporting maritime commerce on our waterways and in the Port of Wilmington. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to secure strong funding for the Coast Guard this year and in years ahead. I also applaud Senators Thune, Carper, and Nelson for working hard to reach an agreement that will provide a clear regulatory framework for ballast water discharge standards that protect our environment. S.140 authorizes more than $10 billion each year for the Coast Guard in fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and will now move to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senator Coons secured $10.19 billion for the Coast Guard in the fiscal year 2019 Homeland Security appropriations bill which passed the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this year with bipartisan support. Press Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054 or brian_cunningham@coons.senate.gov Print Email Tweet … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sen-coons-on-the-special-counsel-we-ought-to-take-responsible-bipartisan-action-here-to-prevent-what-would-otherwise-be-a-constitutional-crisis [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on the Special Counsel: “We ought to take responsible bipartisan action here to prevent what would otherwise be a constitutional crisis.” 2018-11-14 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.14.18 [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on the Special Counsel: We ought to take responsible bipartisan action here to prevent what would otherwise be a constitutional crisis. Sen. Coons on his bipartisan legislation to protect the Special Counsel: We can take this up and pass it easily today by unanimous consent. WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss Special Counsel Robert Mueller and working with President Trump. Frankly, the veryday that President Trump forcedthe resignation of Jeff Sessionsas attorney general he also,again, denounced Mueller'sinvestigation as a hoax andtweeted that he could fireMueller at any time.Why that's not enough of awarning for the majority leader,for our colleagues, I don'tknow, but the statements thatMatt Whitaker the actingattorney general made on CNNwhen he was a commentator giveme grave concern.I think we ought to takeresponsible bipartisan actionhere to prevent what wouldotherwise be a constitutionalcrisis.We can take this up and pass iteasily today by unanimousconsent,said Senator Coons. Video and audio availablehere. Excerpts from the interview: Sen. Coons on the border:I've got someone on mystaff, Lieutenant Brendan Mackie, who served in this exactmission when our National Guardunit got deployed to the bordera number of years ago.When they are forward deployedat the border, it's difficultduty and in this particularinstance given as Senator Flakesaid that they are sitting 90miles from the border and giventhat active duty military troopsreally aren't needed to blocksome caravan that we have gotmonths of advanced notice of,the border guard is fullycapable of handling them, Iwould have to look them in theeye and say thank you for yourservice and I regret that ourpresident is using you as apolitical stunt. Sen. Coons on the Mueller legislation:You know, frankly, the veryday that President Trump forcedthe res… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/carper-thune-announce-coast-guard-authorization-agreement Carper, Thune Announce Coast Guard Authorization Agreement 2018-11-13 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee and senior member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, and John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard, issued the following statements on an agreement for reauthorizing the Coast Guard and establishing a framework for the service to enforce an EPA-led standard setting initiative for national ballast water discharge rules through the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). Thanks to months of hard work, we have been able to reach a strong compromise that protects waters across our country from the environmental and economic risk of the spread of invasive species contained in ballast water, while also providing regulatory certainty for vessel owners and mariners. To reach this agreement, Senators Thune and Nelson and I did not settle for what was easy or what was expedient. These improvements have taken a great deal of time and energy, they are the right thing to do, said Carper. This bipartisan compromise strengthens ballast discharge standards in an environmentally protective way. Specifically, it will reduce the risks posed by ballast water discharges that enters our waterways, minimize the likelihood of introducing invasive species along our coasts and in the Great Lakes, while still ensuring these discharges are regulated under the Clean Water Act. This bill shows that we can keep our vessels moving in and out of our waterways while protecting our environment and marine life at the same time. As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I was proud to be at the table during negotiations to see this compromise across the finish line and find a responsible way to pass the Coast Guard Reauthorization agreement. Thank you to Senator Thune and Senator Nelson for working with me on this important bipartisan bill. This agreement to have the Coast Guard enforce standards e… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/video-carper-touts-bill-protecting-waterways-marine-ecosystems-from-harmful-vessel-discharges Carper Touts Bill Protecting Waterways, Marine Ecosystems from Harmful Vessel Discharges 2018-11-13 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and senior member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC), spoke on the Senate floor today before a vote to invoke cloture on a bill reauthorizing the U.S. Coast Guard and enacting the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) -- a bipartisan measure that will protect waterways and marine life in Delaware and throughout the United States from invasive species and harmful pollution. Crafted through months of negotiations led by Senators Carper, John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), VIDA directs the EPA to craft new rules limiting ballast discharges of toxic pollution and invasive species, and empowers the U.S. Coast Guard to enforce these standards. It also gives states the ability to establish no-discharge zones for vulnerable areas within their borders. The Senate voted to invoke cloture on the bill today, and it is scheduled for a vote on final passage tomorrow before going to the House for consideration. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), an amendment to S. 140: Delegates the lead role in establishing standards for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel to the EPA. Assigns the Coast Guard the lead role in monitoring and enforcing such standards for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel. Keeps existing rules in place until new standards are final and enforceable. Accommodates unique regional situations. Pacific Coast ballast water exchanges will continue and the Great Lakes may set their own basin-wide standards. Allows States to establish no-discharge zones for areas that require additional protection. For the full text of the agreed upon substitute for S. 140, click here. Today's speech can be viewed by clicking here. Below are Senator Carper's full remarks, as prepared for delivery: I rise today in support of the Coast Guard reauthorization bill and to urge our colleagues to vote… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-kasie-dc-november-11-2018 Sen. Coons joins Kasie DC November 11, 2018 2018-11-13 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi_wsj-sens-coons-and-flake-urge-president-trump-to-stop-criticizing-fed ICYMI – WSJ: Sens. Coons and Flake urge President Trump to stop criticizing Fed 2018-11-13 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.13.18 ICYMI WSJ: Sens. Coons and Flake urge President Trump to stop criticizing Fed WASHINGTON In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) were featured inTheWall Street Journalafter the Senators called on President Trump to stop publicly criticizing the Federal Reserve. The Wall Street Journal: Two Senators Urge Trump to Stop Criticizing Fed By Nick Timiraos Two U.S. senators called on President Trump Monday to stop publicly criticizing the Federal Reserve and warned his comments could jeopardize the central bank's credibility and hurt the economy. In a letter to Mr. Trump, Sens. Chris Coons (D., Del.) and Jeff Flake (R., Ariz.) also said Mr. Trump's disagreement with the central bank over interest-rate policies wouldn't be a sufficient reason to remove any Fed leaders, including Chairman Jerome Powell. Mr. Trump escalated his criticism of the Fed's short-term rate increases in recent weeks. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last month, he said the Fed was the biggest risk facing the U.S. economy. In earlier comments, he blamed the central bank for the early October stock-market selloff, calling the Fed crazy and out of control. While presidents have publicly and privately challenged the Fed for much of its 105-year history, presidents before Mr. Trump hadn't publicly criticized the central bank's policy decisions for 25 years. A growing body of economic literature suggests that politicizing a central bank's monetary-policy decisions makes investors less confident that inflation would remain low and stable, causing interest rates set by markets to rise. Your ill-advised commentary goes beyond holding the Fed accountable, said Sens. Coons and Flake in the letter to Mr. Trump. You appear to be telling the Fed what to do with interest rates, which we believe is unconstructive and dangerous. To read the full article, clickhere. ### Press Contact Sean Coit at 202-224-5042 orSean_Coit@coons.senate.gov … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-coons-flake-urge-president-trump-to-respect-the-independence-of-fed-officials-on-interest-rates Sens. Coons, Flake urge President Trump to respect the independence of Fed officials on interest rates 2018-11-13 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.13.18 Sens. Coons, Flake urge President Trump to respect the independence of Fed officials on interest rates WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) sent aletterto President Trump urging him to respect the independence of Federal Reserve (Fed) officials and to refrain from pressuring the Fed on interest rates. The Senators' letter comes after the Presidentrepeatedlycriticizedthe Fed for its interest rate decisions. We share a deep concern that if you continue to verbally attack the Fedsuggesting that a particular monetary policy is owed to you as presidentyou will establish a dangerous precedent that could do grave damage to the U.S. economy,wrote the Senators.You have an opportunity to change course. We call on you to acknowledge that the Fed chair and its board are free to carry through their full terms. We ask that you pledge, as your three predecessors have done, to refrain from criticizing their decisions. The letter is availablehereand copied below. November 12,2018 The Honorable Donald J. Trump President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump: We are concerned about your recent comments harshly criticizing the Federal Reserve (Fed) for its interest rate decisions. We are writing to urge you to respect the independence of Fed officials and to follow the example of other modern presidents by refraining from pressuring the Fed on interest rates. If you undermine the Fed's credibility, you are putting the U.S. economy at risk. Supporting the Fed's independence stabilizes markets, supports economic growth, and helps create good-paying American jobs. The effectiveness of the Fed depends upon sufficient separation from politics, which is why Congress established the Fed as an independent agency. Federal Reserve Board members are not cabinet members. They do not serve at the pleasure of the President. Rather, they serve terms that often span both Democratic and Republican administrations.… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-coons-rubio-write-letter-to-secs-pompeo-mattis-expressing-concern-about-chinas-expanding-influence-in-the-horn-of-africa Sens. Coons, Rubio write letter to Secs. Pompeo, Mattis expressing concern about China’s expanding influence in the Horn of Africa 2018-11-13 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.13.18 Sens. Coons, Rubio write letter to Secs. Pompeo, Mattis expressing concern about China's expanding influence in the Horn of Africa WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis expressing concern about Djibouti's recent nationalization of the Doraleh Container Terminal and the possibility that this development will allow China to expand its influence and challenge U.S. interests in the Horn of Africa. In February 2018, the Government of Djibouti seized control of the Doraleh Container Terminal. The Government of Djibouti is expected to cede operations of Doraleh to Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) following a July 2018 agreement between the Djiboutian government and a Chinese SOE to establish a large free trade zone in Djibouti. I am concerned that a potential Chinese takeover of the Doraleh Container Terminal would allow Beijing to impede the military operations of the United States and our allies in the Horn of Africa and also threaten the freedom and independence of states in the region,said Senator Coons.I look forward to working constructively with the Trump administration to sustain U.S. operations in the Horn of Africa. The letter written by Senator Coons and Senator Rubio asks the State Department and Pentagon to outline the military and political consequences of China gaining full control of Doraleh Container Terminal, as well as to share U.S. diplomatic and security strategy for countering Chinese influence in Djibouti and throughout the Horn of Africa. The letter is copied below and is availablehere. November 7, 2018 The Honorable Mike Pompeo Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 The Honorable James Mattis Secretary of Defense U.S. Department of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301 Dear Secretary Pompeo and Secretary… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sen-coons-matt-whitaker-strikes-me-as-a-clear-and-present-danger-to-the-independence-of-the-special-counsel [VIDEO] Sen. Coons: “Matt Whitaker strikes me as a clear and present danger to the independence of the Special Counsel” 2018-11-13 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy 11.13.18 [VIDEO] Sen. Coons: Matt Whitaker strikes me as a clear and present danger to the independence of the Special Counsel WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Kasie Hunt on MSNBC's Kasie DC to discuss his legislation to protect the Special Counsel. This is a balanced, bipartisan bill, and I respect that the Majority Leader has said in the past that the Mueller investigation should not be interfered with, but I don't understand on what basis he thinks President Trump who continues as recently as last week to criticize and question and challenge the Mueller investigation can be trusted to stay hands off. I think it is the role of the Senate to step forward in a moment like this and ensure that we don't have a constitutional crisis that is so obviously avoidable with legislation that's bipartisan and ready for action,said Senator Coons. Video and audio availablehere. Sen. Coons on the Special Counsel bill:Well this is a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee back in April by a strong bipartisan margin of 14 to 7. My co-sponsors on the Republican side, Senators Graham and Tillis, and my co-sponsor on the Democratic side, Senator Booker, have all urged this not just to protect this Special Counsel, but future Special Counsels to make sure that it is clear in law that you can't abruptly and for no good reason fire the Special Counsel. As you mentioned in the lead in Kasie, we are hoping the Special Counsel is concluding his investigation, preparing his report, but we don't know that. And Matt Whitaker strikes me as a clear and present danger to the independence of the Special Counsel, given things he has said a year ago when he was a CNN commentator and given some of his unusual legal theories. Kasie I expect there's going to be challenges to Matthew Whitaker's appointment, legal challenges. There was a letter sent by a wide range of leading Democrats to the DOJ Ethics Counsel asking for a ruling on whether or not he sh… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/11/honoring-our-veterans Honoring Our Veterans 2018-11-11 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Thomas Carper C000174 www.carper.senate.gov     legacy Having served 23 years in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves, I understand the sacrifices that the brave men and women of our military have made to defend our country's freedoms. We owe it to our veterans and their families to ensure they have access to high-quality health care, a place to call home, the opportunity to obtain an education and the skills they need to lead a successful life as a civilian. Today, The News Journal featured a piece I wrote on our obligations to our veterans who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.I hope you'll take a moment to read my Veterans Day message, and join me in honoring our fallen soldiers and saying Thank You to all of our veterans in Delaware and around our great country. Let's make good on our promises to veterans On Veterans Day, we honor all of America's veterans who have served, or are currently serving, our country with courage and commitment. Those who have served in times of peace and in times of war. Those who have protected and made real the principles enshrined in our Constitution. We didn't always have a day dedicated to our men and women in uniform. While World War I officially ended in June 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, fighting had ceased months earlier when an armistice went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month November 11, 1918. One year later, on November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson commemorated the very first Armistice Day. In 1954, Congress replaced Armistice with Veterans to better ensure that all future generations of veterans would feel the gratitude of their country and its citizens. My first Veterans Day in Delaware was November 11, 1973, shortly after I had completed nearly five years of active duty as the Vietnam War was beginning to wind down. That fall, with the help of the GI Bill, I enrolled in the University of Delaware's MBA program. Along with other Vietnam veterans who were furthering their education, I received a $250 monthly benefit along with some d… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-cnn-november-8-2018 Sen. Coons joins CNN November 8, 2018 2018-11-09 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-anderson-cooper-360-november-7-2018 Sen. Coons joins Anderson Cooper 360 November 7, 2018 2018-11-08 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-npr-morning-edition-november-8-2018 Sen. Coons joins NPR Morning Edition November 8, 2018 2018-11-08 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-the-rachel-maddow-show-november-7-2018 Sen. Coons joins The Rachel Maddow Show November 7, 2018 2018-11-08 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z
https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-coons-joins-wdel-november-7-2018 Sen. Coons joins WDEL November 7, 2018 2018-11-07 2018 2018-11 Democrat House DE Christopher Coons C001088 www.coons.senate.gov     legacy Look at the biggest progressive fights & you'll often find that they were religious movements Sen. Coons celebrates America 250: "Our story is stronger when we tell it in its entirety" This week, seven of my bipartisan bills advanced in the Senate, one step closer to becoming law. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-06-27T23:10:16Z

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   [date] TEXT,
   [year] TEXT,
   [month] TEXT,
   [party] TEXT,
   [chamber] TEXT,
   [state] TEXT,
   [member_name] TEXT,
   [bioguide_id] TEXT,
   [domain] TEXT,
   [scraper] TEXT,
   [source] TEXT,
   [date_source] TEXT,
   [text] TEXT,
   [has_text] INTEGER,
   [collected_at] TEXT,
   [updated_at] TEXT
);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_date]
    ON [releases] ([date]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_year]
    ON [releases] ([year]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_party]
    ON [releases] ([party]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_chamber]
    ON [releases] ([chamber]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_state]
    ON [releases] ([state]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_bioguide_id]
    ON [releases] ([bioguide_id]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_has_text]
    ON [releases] ([has_text]);
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