Dr. Mike Katz for U.S. Senate

S.J.Res. 191, the joint resolution directing removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran not authorized by Congress, enters its third day in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Coons is listed as a cosponsor of this measure, which would constrain the President's ability to respond to Iranian threats without prior congressional authorization. No committee markup has been scheduled, but Senate Democratic leadership has signaled it intends to force a floor vote under the War Powers Act expedited procedures. The resolution remains the most consequential legislative action in Coons' current portfolio, directly implicating his stance on executive military authority.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports strong Commander-in-Chief authority and believes tying the President's hands on Iran — a state sponsor of terrorism actively pursuing nuclear weapons — endangers American servicemembers and allies. Per his defense and veterans platform, Dr. Katz has called for sustaining a robust military posture; cosponsoring a resolution that telegraphs American hesitation to adversaries runs counter to that principle. Dr. Katz opposes S.J.Res. 191 as dangerously naive in the current threat environment.

● TALKING POINTS

Coons is cosponsoring a resolution that would handcuff the Commander-in-Chief while Iran accelerates its nuclear program — that's not protecting Delaware, it's protecting Tehran's timeline
Dr. Katz believes a strong Commander-in-Chief needs full authority to defend American lives; you don't announce your limits to your enemies
Coons sits on both Foreign Relations and Defense Appropriations — he knows the intelligence on Iran, and yet he's choosing partisan posturing over national security
Delaware is home to Dover AFB, a critical airlift hub — our military families deserve a Senator who backs the mission, not one who undermines the chain of command
Dr. Katz supports congressional oversight of long-term wars but opposes preemptive surrender of presidential authority in an active crisis theater

Sources: Congress.gov — S.J.Res. 191  ·  Senate Foreign Relations Committee↑ INDEX

DEFENSE & PENTAGON

Defense Appropriations / FY2027 Budget / DOGE

FY2027 Defense Budget Hearing Series — Weekend Pause; Week Nine Preview

The Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee is in weekend recess following its eighth week of FY2027 budget hearings. As Ranking Member, Coons has consistently used these sessions to frame DOGE-driven efficiency initiatives as reckless cuts that threaten military readiness. Week nine hearings are expected to resume Monday or Tuesday. Staff should monitor for any Coons press releases, op-eds, or Sunday show appearances this weekend that preview his messaging for the coming week.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports fiscal responsibility and believes that eliminating wasteful Pentagon spending — not shielding bloated bureaucracies — strengthens national defense. Per his economy and cost-of-living platform, Dr. Katz has called for comprehensive government restructuring to match services with revenues, drawing directly from his Delaware State Senate legislation (Katz bill establishing an independent council to restructure state government). Coons' reflexive opposition to any efficiency initiative suggests he prioritizes bureaucratic inertia over warfighter readiness.

● TALKING POINTS

Dr. Katz authored legislation in the Delaware Senate to restructure government operations and match spending to revenue — he's been doing this work for over a decade
Coons calls every efficiency effort a 'reckless cut' — but never names a single dollar of Pentagon waste he'd eliminate
As Ranking Member on Defense Appropriations, Coons has a responsibility to be a steward of taxpayer dollars, not a guardian of the status quo
Fiscal discipline and military strength are not mutually exclusive — Dr. Katz believes we can and must have both
Delaware taxpayers deserve a Senator who fights for every defense dollar to go to readiness and capability, not bureaucratic overhead

Sources: Senate Appropriations Committee  ·  C-SPAN — Senate hearings↑ INDEX

Defense / Border Security

[STAFF VERIFY] Coons Statements on National Guard Border Deployment — No Confirmed Public Position Through Day 55 of Tracking

Staff has been tracking for fifty-five days whether Coons has issued any formal statement, floor remarks, committee questions, or social media posts regarding the Administration's expanded National Guard deployment to the southern border. As of this brief, no confirmed Coons statement has been identified. His silence on a deployment that directly involves military assets and personnel — an issue squarely within his Defense Appropriations Subcommittee jurisdiction — is increasingly notable.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports secure borders and strong ICE enforcement as core platform positions. Coons' 55-day silence on a major military border deployment — while simultaneously cosponsoring a resolution to limit military action against Iran — suggests selective engagement with Commander-in-Chief authority: constrain the President abroad, ignore enforcement at home.

● TALKING POINTS

Fifty-five days and counting — Coons has had nothing to say about National Guard troops deployed to protect our border, but found time to cosponsor a resolution limiting military action against Iran
Dr. Katz supports secure borders and strong ICE enforcement — he doesn't go silent when the issue is politically inconvenient
Coons sits on Defense Appropriations — he has direct oversight of these deployments and is choosing to look the other way
Delaware families want a Senator who backs border security, not one who hides from the issue for nearly two months

Sources: Coons.senate.gov — press releases↑ INDEX

Military Construction / Delaware

Dover AFB FY2027 Military Construction — Sunday Status; No New Developments

Dover Air Force Base, home to the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings and the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, remains a critical Delaware equities item as FY2027 defense appropriations hearings continue. No new military construction requests, announcements, or Coons advocacy efforts specific to Dover AFB have been identified since the last brief. Staff should monitor for any MILCON line items in upcoming subcommittee markups.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports strong defense investment at Dover AFB, per his veterans and defense platform. Dover is central to U.S. global airlift capability and dignified transfer operations. Campaign messaging can acknowledge bipartisan support for Dover while pressing Coons on whether DOGE-related cuts he opposes would actually affect Dover operations or are being used as a political shield.

● TALKING POINTS

Dover AFB is the backbone of America's strategic airlift — Dr. Katz believes it deserves sustained investment and modernization
Both parties support Dover, but only one candidate — Dr. Katz — has a clear plan to pair military investment with fiscal accountability
Coons should specify: which DOGE proposals, if any, actually threaten Dover operations? Or is he using Delaware's base as a political prop?

Sources: Senate Appropriations Committee  ·  Dover AFB — U.S. Air Force↑ INDEX

RECENT LEGISLATION

War Powers / Iran / Foreign Relations

UPDATED

S.J.Res. 191 — Iran War Powers Resolution — Day 3 in Foreign Relations Committee; Coons Listed as Cosponsor

Introduced April 30, S.J.Res. 191 directs the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran not authorized by Congress. Coons is listed as a cosponsor. The resolution was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, where Coons also serves. No markup or hearing has been scheduled. Under War Powers Act procedures, the resolution may be subject to expedited consideration.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports strong Commander-in-Chief authority and opposes legislative efforts to telegraph American military constraints to adversaries, per his defense platform. Coons' dual committee position — Foreign Relations and Defense Appropriations — makes his cosponorship a deliberate policy choice, not a casual gesture.

● TALKING POINTS

Coons is both a cosponsor and a committee gatekeeper on this resolution — he's not just going along, he's actively driving it
Dr. Katz believes the President must retain the ability to respond to Iranian aggression without announcing our limits in advance
This resolution would embolden Tehran at the worst possible moment in the nuclear standoff

Sources: Congress.gov — S.J.Res. 191  ·  Senate Foreign Relations Committee↑ INDEX

Foreign Policy / China / National Security

UPDATED

S.Res. 716 — China Policy Sense of the Senate Resolution — Day 3 in Foreign Relations Committee

On April 30, Coons introduced or cosponsored S.Res. 716, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding critical elements of U.S. policy toward the People's Republic of China. The resolution was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Full text has been published in the Congressional Record (CR S2178-2179). Staff should review the text for specific policy prescriptions, particularly regarding Taiwan, trade, technology restrictions, and military posture in the Indo-Pacific.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports a firm, comprehensive approach to China that includes energy independence and critical mineral security — per his energy and environment platform and his support for the ADVANCE Act on nuclear energy. Non-binding sense-of-the-Senate resolutions signal concern without requiring action; staff should assess whether Coons' resolution contains enforceable provisions or is purely messaging.

● TALKING POINTS

Resolutions expressing 'concern' about China cost nothing and change nothing — Dr. Katz believes in actionable policy, not press releases disguised as legislation
Dr. Katz supports American energy independence and critical mineral security as concrete tools to counter Chinese leverage
Review the resolution text — does it endorse any specific action, or is it another Coons messaging vehicle with no teeth?

Sources: Congress.gov — S.Res. 716  ·  Senate Foreign Relations Committee↑ INDEX

Energy / National Security / Minerals

UPDATED

S. 4392 — Allied Energy and Mineral Security Act — Day 6 in Foreign Relations Committee; No Cosponsors

Introduced April 27 by Coons, S. 4392 promotes 'United States and allied energy and mineral security.' Now in its sixth day in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Bill text has not yet been publicly posted on Congress.gov. No cosponsors have signed on. The referral to Foreign Relations rather than Energy and Natural Resources indicates the bill's primary framing is international cooperation rather than domestic energy production.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports American energy independence as a core platform position, including advocacy for nuclear energy and the ADVANCE Act. The critical question for S. 4392 is whether it prioritizes domestic energy production and extraction or relies on international partnerships that maintain American dependence on allied supply chains. Staff should flag the bill text the moment it publishes and assess its domestic production provisions.

● TALKING POINTS

Six days in, no cosponsors, no bill text — Coons introduced an energy bill that even his own colleagues won't sign onto
Dr. Katz believes energy security starts at home — with American production, American nuclear, and American workers
Routing an 'energy security' bill through Foreign Relations instead of Energy and Natural Resources tells you everything about Coons' priorities: diplomacy over drilling
Delaware needs a Senator who fights for American energy independence, not one who outsources our security to allied negotiations

Sources: Congress.gov — S. 4392↑ INDEX

Labor / Retirement Benefits

UPDATED

S. 4362 — Railroad Retirement Fairness Act — Day 12 in HELP Committee; No Cosponsors

Introduced April 21 by Coons, S. 4362 would amend the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to eliminate certain deductions for annuities. Now in its twelfth day in the Senate HELP Committee. No cosponsors have signed on. No committee hearing or markup has been scheduled. The bill addresses a niche retirement benefit issue with potential appeal to railroad workers in the Delmarva region, but its lack of cosponsors suggests limited momentum.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports retirement security for working families, per his economy and cost-of-living platform. Campaign messaging can acknowledge the policy intent while noting Coons' pattern of introducing narrow bills without building coalitions to pass them.

● TALKING POINTS

Twelve days in, zero cosponsors — if Coons can't convince a single colleague to support a railroad retirement fix, how effective is he for Delaware?
Dr. Katz supports retirement security — but effective legislation requires building coalitions, not collecting bill numbers
Delaware's workers need results, not press releases

Sources: Congress.gov — S. 4362↑ INDEX

Consumer Protection / Banking

S. 4144 — ESCRA Act — Day 45 in Banking Committee; No Cosponsors, No Movement

Coons' ESCRA Act, introduced March 19 to amend the Credit Repair Organizations Act, enters its forty-fifth day in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee with no cosponsors and no committee action. The bill appears functionally stalled.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports consumer protection measures that empower individuals without adding regulatory burdens on small businesses, per his economy platform. Another Coons bill approaching day 45 with zero cosponsors reinforces the ineffectiveness narrative.

● TALKING POINTS

Forty-five days, zero cosponsors, zero hearings — the ESCRA Act is another Coons bill going nowhere
Dr. Katz believes in consumer protections that actually pass — not bills filed for press releases and forgotten

Sources: Congress.gov — S. 4144↑ INDEX

S. 4145 — Pro Codes Act — Day 45 in Judiciary; No Cosponsors, No Movement

Coons' Pro Codes Act (S. 4145), introduced March 19 to amend Title 17 U.S. Code regarding copyrighted works incorporated by reference into federal law, enters its forty-fifth day in the Senate Judiciary Committee with no cosponsors and no committee action.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports government transparency — as demonstrated by his Delaware State Senate legislation mandating live streaming of the state senate (Katz SR 14, 146th General Assembly). But transparency requires legislation that actually moves. Another stalled Coons bill underscores the pattern.

● TALKING POINTS

Dr. Katz passed live-streaming legislation in the Delaware State Senate — he didn't just file it and forget it
Forty-five days stalled with zero support is not governing, it's posturing

Sources: Congress.gov — S. 4145↑ INDEX

Immigration / Oversight

S. 3891 — ICE Accountability Act — Week 12+ Stalled in Judiciary Committee; No Action

Coons' ICE Accountability Act (S. 3891), introduced February 12, enters its twelfth week stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee with no new cosponsors or committee action. The bill would impose additional oversight requirements on ICE operations, including restrictions on enforcement activities that critics argue would hamper interior immigration enforcement.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports strong ICE enforcement as a core platform position. The ICE Accountability Act would add bureaucratic hurdles to immigration enforcement at a time when border security demands maximum operational flexibility. Coons' bill has zero cosponsors after twelve weeks, suggesting even his own caucus views it as overreach.

● TALKING POINTS

Twelve weeks, zero cosponsors — even Senate Democrats won't cosponsor Coons' bill to tie ICE's hands
Dr. Katz supports strong ICE enforcement and secure borders — not more red tape for the agents protecting our communities
Coons introduced a bill to handicap ICE while refusing to comment on National Guard border deployments — his priorities are backward

Sources: Congress.gov — S. 3891↑ INDEX

Legislative Effectiveness / Oversight

UPDATED

Coons' Complete Legislative Portfolio — Zero-Cosponsor Pattern Persists; Only Ceremonial Resolution Has Passed in 119th Congress

As of May 3, Sen. Coons has ten tracked items in the 119th Congress: S.J.Res. 191 (Day 3, cosponsor), S.Res. 716 (Day 3), S.Res. 702 (passed UC, ceremonial), S. 4392 (Day 6, zero cosponsors), S. 4362 (Day 12, zero cosponsors), S. 4144 (Day 45, zero cosponsors), S. 4145 (Day 45, zero cosponsors), S. 4089 (Day 52, zero cosponsors), S. 4011 (Day 59+), and S. 3891 (Week 12+, zero cosponsors). The only measure to pass is S.Res. 702, a ceremonial resolution honoring the American Chemical Society. Every substantive bill Coons has introduced has zero cosponsors.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz's Delaware State Senate record demonstrates a pattern of passing substantive legislation — term limits (SB 61), lobby reform (SB 141), government transparency (SR 14), scenic byway preservation (SB 241), and the DHIN health information network. Coons' 119th Congress record — one ceremonial resolution passed, every substantive bill at zero cosponsors — raises serious questions about legislative effectiveness after 16 years in the Senate.

● TALKING POINTS

After 16 years in the Senate, Coons' only legislative achievement this Congress is a congratulatory resolution for the American Chemical Society
Every substantive Coons bill has zero cosponsors — not one colleague will put their name on his work
Dr. Katz passed term limits, lobby reform, government transparency, and healthcare IT legislation in the Delaware State Senate — he builds coalitions and delivers results
Delaware deserves a Senator who legislates, not one who files bills for press releases
The contrast is clear: Katz has a track record of getting things done; Coons has a filing cabinet of stalled bills

Sources: Congress.gov — Sen. Coons legislation↑ INDEX

APPROPRIATIONS & DELAWARE FUNDING

Federal Funding / Delaware

[STAFF VERIFY] FY2026 Federal Funding Status — Sunday Confirmation

Staff should confirm the current status of FY2026 federal funding. Determine whether the government is operating under a continuing resolution, an enacted omnibus, or individual appropriations bills. Identify any Delaware-specific earmarks, grants, or funding allocations that Coons has claimed credit for and assess whether they represent new deliverables or continuation of prior-year funding.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports fiscal responsibility and transparent budgeting, per his economy platform and his Delaware State Senate record of establishing independent review of state government spending. Campaign messaging should track whether Coons is delivering measurable new funding for Delaware or simply taking credit for routine federal allocations.

● TALKING POINTS

Is Coons delivering new money for Delaware or repackaging existing funding as 'wins'? Staff should verify every claim
Dr. Katz championed independent government spending review in the Delaware State Senate — he brings that same accountability mindset to federal spending
Fiscal responsibility means knowing exactly where every dollar goes, not rubber-stamping continuing resolutions

Sources: Senate Appropriations Committee  ·  Coons.senate.gov — press releases↑ INDEX

Veterans / Delaware / Healthcare

Veterans Affairs — Southern Delaware VA Facility Advocacy — Sunday Status

Coons continues to advocate for expanded VA healthcare services in southern Delaware, including support for a new outpatient specialty care facility serving veterans in Kent and Sussex counties. No new funding announcements, site selections, or construction timelines have been reported since the last brief. This remains an area where Coons and Katz share similar goals, requiring nuanced messaging.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz has called for an advanced VA medical facility in southern Delaware as a centerpiece of his veterans platform. As a physician with forty years of healthcare experience, including pediatric critical care at Nemours/Jefferson, Dr. Katz brings clinical and operational expertise that Coons — a career politician and lawyer — cannot match. Campaign messaging should credit shared goals while emphasizing that Dr. Katz's medical background makes him uniquely qualified to ensure the facility delivers quality care, not just ribbon-cutting opportunities.

● TALKING POINTS

Dr. Katz and Coons both support a southern Delaware VA facility — but only Dr. Katz has the medical expertise to ensure it's designed for quality patient outcomes
With forty years in healthcare, Dr. Katz understands the difference between a political announcement and an operational healthcare facility
Kent and Sussex County veterans have waited long enough — they need a Senator who can hold the VA accountable on clinical standards, not just ribbon-cuttings

Sources: Dr. Katz — Veterans Platform  ·  Coons.senate.gov↑ INDEX

DELAWARE

Business Climate / Corporate Governance / Delaware Economy

UPDATED

ExxonMobil Texas Redomiciliation — Coons Enters Week Twelve Without Addressing Delaware's Eroding Business Climate

ExxonMobil's board-recommended redomiciliation from New Jersey to Texas — bypassing Delaware entirely — now enters its twelfth week as a data point in Delaware's eroding position as America's premier corporate domicile state. Coons has not made any public statement, introduced legislation, or convened a hearing addressing the broader trend of major corporations choosing Texas, Nevada, or other states over Delaware for incorporation. Delaware's franchise tax and incorporation fee revenues are critical to the state budget.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz's economy platform emphasizes reducing corporate tax burdens and incentivizing business investment, grounded in his Delaware State Senate legislation to repeal Delaware's corporate income tax (Katz SB 100, 146th General Assembly). Twelve weeks of silence from Coons on a direct threat to Delaware's core economic advantage — corporate incorporation — is a significant vulnerability. Dr. Katz believes Delaware must actively compete to retain and attract businesses.

● TALKING POINTS

ExxonMobil chose Texas over Delaware — and for twelve weeks, Coons has said nothing about the erosion of Delaware's #1 economic brand
Dr. Katz authored legislation to repeal Delaware's corporate income tax (SB 100) — he understands that businesses go where they're welcome
Delaware's franchise tax revenues depend on being the nation's corporate home — Coons is watching that advantage disappear without lifting a finger
Dr. Katz believes Delaware must compete aggressively for business — not assume corporations will always choose us by default

Sources: Dr. Katz — Economy Platform  ·  Reuters↑ INDEX

Delaware Economy / Quality of Life

[STAFF VERIFY] Delaware Population and Outmigration Trends — Sunday Data Check

Staff should check whether updated Census Bureau population estimates or IRS migration data for Delaware have been released. Recent trends have shown Delaware experiencing slower population growth and potential net domestic outmigration to lower-cost states. This data is critical for framing cost-of-living and quality-of-life messaging. Any new data should be flagged immediately for incorporation into campaign materials.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz's platform addresses homeownership affordability (noting Delaware median home prices surged 53% from 2018 to 2023), cost of living, and economic competitiveness as interconnected issues driving outmigration. Per his homeownership platform, Dr. Katz has called for tax incentives for first-time homebuyers and policies to increase affordable housing supply. If people are leaving Delaware, Coons' 16-year Senate tenure coincides with conditions driving them out.

● TALKING POINTS

Delaware home prices surged 53% in five years — on Coons' watch — pushing the American Dream out of reach for working families
Dr. Katz has called for first-time homebuyer tax incentives and affordable housing construction policies
If Delawareans are leaving for lower-cost states, 16 years of Coons' representation hasn't solved the problem

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau  ·  Dr. Katz — Homeownership Platform↑ INDEX

Government Reform / Delaware Jobs

[STAFF VERIFY] DOGE-Driven Federal Workforce Cuts — Delaware-Specific Impact Numbers

Coons has been among the most vocal Senate Democrats opposing DOGE-driven reductions-in-force across federal agencies. Delaware has a significant federal workforce presence, including at Dover AFB, the VA, IRS, USDA, and various agencies. Staff should verify whether any Delaware-specific RIF numbers, buyout figures, or agency closure plans have been publicly released. These numbers are essential for calibrating campaign messaging — opposing cuts in the abstract is easier than addressing specific Delaware job losses.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports government restructuring for efficiency, per his Delaware State Senate record of establishing an independent council to evaluate state services and develop a five-year restructuring plan. Campaign messaging should distinguish between protecting Delaware jobs at essential installations like Dover AFB versus defending bureaucratic bloat at agencies that don't serve Delawareans. Dr. Katz believes in protecting essential services while eliminating waste.

● TALKING POINTS

Dr. Katz authored a plan to restructure Delaware state government for efficiency — he knows how to protect essential services while cutting waste
Coons opposes every efficiency measure without distinguishing between protecting Dover AFB jobs and protecting Washington bureaucracy
Delaware needs specific impact numbers — how many Delaware jobs are actually affected? Coons should show his work, not just make speeches

Sources: Coons.senate.gov  ·  OPM — Federal workforce data↑ INDEX

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

Foreign Policy / China / National Security

UPDATED

S.Res. 716 — China Policy Resolution Text Published; Staff Review Required

The text of S.Res. 716, Coons' sense-of-the-Senate resolution on U.S. policy toward China, has been published in the Congressional Record (CR S2178-2179). The resolution was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 30. Staff should obtain and review the full text to identify specific policy positions on Taiwan, trade, technology export controls, South China Sea, and military posture. Non-binding resolutions of this nature are typically messaging vehicles; the question is whether this contains actionable policy prescriptions.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports a firm China policy anchored in American energy independence, critical mineral security, and strong defense — per his energy/environment platform and defense positions. Campaign staff should compare the resolution's language against Dr. Katz's platform to identify areas of agreement (if any can be leveraged) and areas where Coons' approach relies on diplomatic language without enforcement mechanisms.

● TALKING POINTS

The full text is now available — staff must review it before Coons starts messaging around it
Non-binding resolutions don't deter Beijing — Dr. Katz believes in actionable policies: energy independence, supply chain security, and military readiness
If the resolution doesn't address domestic energy production and mineral extraction, it's addressing China with one hand tied behind our back

Sources: Congress.gov — S.Res. 716  ·  Congressional Record↑ INDEX

Government Reform / Foreign Affairs

UPDATED

DOGE Cuts to State Department / USAID — Coons Opposition Continues Into Week Thirteen

Coons has continued his vocal opposition to DOGE-driven workforce reduction plans targeting the State Department and USAID, now entering a thirteenth week of sustained public messaging. Coons has characterized these cuts as gutting American diplomatic capacity and undermining national security. No new floor action, committee hearings, or legislative proposals from Coons have emerged this weekend to address the issue beyond continued public statements.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports government restructuring to eliminate waste and redundancy while protecting core capabilities, per his economy platform and Delaware State Senate legislation on government reorganization. Thirteen weeks of opposition rhetoric without a concrete legislative counter-proposal suggests Coons is more interested in the talking point than the solution.

● TALKING POINTS

Thirteen weeks of speeches, zero legislative proposals — Coons is all talk on State Department reform
Dr. Katz believes in protecting America's core diplomatic capabilities while eliminating the bureaucratic bloat that weakens them
If Coons has a better plan for State Department reform, where's the bill? After 16 years, he knows how to introduce one

Sources: Coons.senate.gov  ·  Senate Foreign Relations Committee↑ INDEX

Ukraine / Foreign Aid

[STAFF VERIFY] Ukraine Supplemental Aid — Sunday Status Check

Coons has been one of the Senate's most vocal advocates for continued military and economic assistance to Ukraine. Staff should verify whether any new supplemental aid package language has been introduced, whether the Administration has submitted a new request, or whether Senate leadership has scheduled any floor action. Also check for any Coons Sunday show appearances or statements related to Ukraine funding.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports strong defense and American leadership but believes every foreign aid dollar must be accounted for and tied to clear American strategic interests. Campaign messaging should press Coons on accountability mechanisms for Ukraine aid and whether continued funding comes at the expense of domestic priorities like Delaware infrastructure and veterans services.

● TALKING POINTS

Dr. Katz supports American leadership abroad but demands accountability for every taxpayer dollar sent overseas
Coons champions Ukraine funding — has he demanded the same level of accounting Delaware taxpayers expect for their money?
Strength and fiscal responsibility go together — blank checks don't win wars, strategy does

Sources: Senate Foreign Relations Committee  ·  Senate Appropriations Committee↑ INDEX

SENATE DEMOCRAT CAUCUS WATCH

Homeland Security / Fiscal Policy

DHS and TSA Funding — Senate Democrats Continue to Leverage Funding Debate for Anti-Enforcement Messaging

Senate Democrats are expected to continue using upcoming DHS and TSA funding debates to push for restrictions on interior immigration enforcement, oppose expanded ICE detention capacity, and resist increases in border security personnel. No new floor action or committee markup has been scheduled over the weekend. Coons, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, will have direct influence over DHS funding levels. His ICE Accountability Act (S. 3891) signals his caucus-aligned position of imposing additional oversight burdens on enforcement operations.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz supports strong ICE enforcement and secure borders as core platform positions. He opposes efforts by Senate Democrats to use the appropriations process to defund or restrict interior enforcement operations. Coons' dual role — Appropriations Committee member and author of the ICE Accountability Act — makes him a central figure in the caucus effort to hamstring border enforcement through the funding process.

● TALKING POINTS

Senate Democrats want to use the budget to tie ICE's hands — and Coons is leading the effort with his ICE Accountability Act
Dr. Katz supports full funding for border security and ICE enforcement — no backdoor cuts through appropriations riders
Coons sits on Appropriations — he has the power to fund border security and is choosing to use it against enforcement
Delaware communities deserve a Senator who funds the agencies protecting them, not one who sabotages enforcement from the inside

Sources: Senate Appropriations Committee  ·  Congress.gov — S. 3891↑ INDEX

Election Integrity / Immigration

SAVE America Act — Senate Democrats Continue to Block Voter Citizenship Verification; Coons Expected to Vote With Caucus

The SAVE Act (H.R. 22), requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, remains pending in the Senate after passing the House in April 2025 (220-208, largely party-line). Senate Democrats are expected to oppose or filibuster the bill, framing it as voter suppression. No Senate Democrat has indicated support. Coons has not made a specific public statement on the SAVE Act but is expected to vote with his caucus against it. No new floor action has been scheduled over the weekend.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Dr. Katz strongly supports the SAVE Act, per his stated position that only U.S. citizens should vote in U.S. elections — a position shared by the vast majority of Americans. Dr. Katz opposes Senate Democrat efforts to block or filibuster the bill, calling their resistance a choice to protect a broken system over basic election integrity. Coons' expected opposition to a commonsense citizenship verification requirement is a clear contrast with broad bipartisan public support for the measure.

● TALKING POINTS

Dr. Katz supports the SAVE Act — proving you're a citizen to vote in American elections shouldn't be controversial
Coons hasn't said a word about the SAVE Act, but his caucus is working to kill it — silence is complicity
Polls consistently show 70%+ of Americans support proof-of-citizenship requirements to vote — Senate Democrats are on the wrong side of the public
Dr. Katz believes election integrity is the foundation of democracy — opposing basic verification undermines public trust in every election
If Coons won't even state his position on the SAVE Act, Delaware voters should ask: what is he afraid of?

Sources: Congress.gov — H.R. 22 (SAVE Act)  ·  GovTrack — H.R. 22↑ INDEX

2026 RACE CONTEXT

Campaign Intelligence

Race Snapshot: Coons vs. Katz (General: Nov. 3, 2026)

Sen. Coons (D) is running for a third full term. Republican primary: Dr. Mike Katz vs. John Shulli — primary set for September 15, 2026. Delaware is historically Solid Democratic. Coons has missed 3.0% of Senate roll call votes since 2010. His legislative profile focuses on International Affairs (27%), Commerce (21%), and Labor (10%). Committees: Appropriations (Defense Subcommittee Ranking Member), Foreign Relations, Judiciary. No new public polling or major campaign developments have been reported this weekend.

⚡ KATZ CONTRAST POINT: Strategic note for Katz: Coons is well-funded and active on national security. Key vulnerabilities this week: Iran war powers cosponorship (Commander-in-Chief authority), zero-cosponsor legislative portfolio (effectiveness), 12-week silence on ExxonMobil redomiciliation (Delaware business climate), 55-day silence on National Guard border deployment (border security), and healthcare policy (Katz's home turf as a physician with 40 years of experience). The legislative ineffectiveness narrative — one ceremonial resolution passed, every substantive bill at zero cosponsors — is the strongest through-line across all issue areas.

● TALKING POINTS

After 16 years, Coons' only 2025-2026 legislative achievement is a congratulatory resolution — Delaware deserves more
Dr. Katz brings 40 years of healthcare expertise, a proven Delaware State Senate legislative record, and a commitment to results over rhetoric
Key contrast areas: Commander-in-Chief authority, border security, fiscal responsibility, Delaware business climate, healthcare
Coons' committee positions give him enormous power — the question is whether he uses it for Delaware or for Washington partisan games

Sources: GovTrack — Sen. Coons profile  ·  Dr. Katz campaign site↑ INDEX

DR. MIKE KATZ FOR U.S. SENATE