U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind, visited Indiana Wesleyan University on Tuesday, Oct. 18 as part of his speaking tour preceding his retirement. Coats gave a 15-minute speech followed by a question-and-answer session held in the Barnes Student Center on IWU’s residential campus. Many students and members of the local community were in attendance.
“Time and time again, I'm humbled by the opportunity to talk to young people around #Indiana,” Coats tweeted on Tuesday. “Great questions from @IndWes students today.”
During his speech, Coats addressed several issues close to his heart including his concern over the national debt, which is steadily approaching $20 trillion.
“It was an honor to host Sen. Coats on our campus,” said Dr. Keith Newman, Chancellor, IWU - Marion. “This [Q&A session] was not a political rally or designed for any partisan support. Sen. Coats is retiring this year and this was a chance to be able to thank him for his service and ask him about the political process.”
Coats held a senator position from 1989 to 1999, and returned in 2011. During his current term he has focused on “cutting wasteful spending, reducing the national debt and promoting a pro-growth economic policy to put Hoosiers and Americans back to work.”
The Michigan-native graduated from Wheaton College and went on to earn his J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Coats’ previous experience includes serving in the U.S. Army, holding a spot in the House of Representatives and being appointed Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.
Coats has chosen not to run for re-election as senator, leaving his seat in the Senate up for election in November.