Coons lands coveted slot on Appropriations panel

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said the two senators from neighboring states “have worked together on a number of issues in the past” and that he “will be an asset to the committee.” 

{mosads}Coons is only the fourth Delawarean to serve on the Senate panel. 

“During his time in the Senate, Chris has impressed us all with his ability to build consensus between parties to find bipartisan solutions,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said. 

He will continue to serve on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations and Budget committees, and will retain his chairmanships of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Bankruptcy and the Courts and the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on African Affairs. 

Because of Senate rules, he had to give up his seat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“Supporting the next generation of energy innovation has been a passion and a policy priority for me, and I intend to continue working hard on the bipartisan energy bills I’ve introduced and for which I’ve advocated,” Coons said. “The Appropriations Committee will allow me to continue to work to advance clean energy technologies and support the all-of-the-above energy strategy we need to lower Delawareans’ energy costs and help our country stay competitive.”