Video: Sen. Coons urges colleagues to reform broken immigration system

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) stressed the importance of fixing our nation’s immigration system in a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday. He urged his colleagues to not let partisanship interfere with passing an immigration reform bill that must ‘reflects America’s values and makes our country stronger.’

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: June 10 to June 16

Tuesday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America Citizen of the Year Award dinner. The Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America will recognize Brian DiSabatino, President of EDiS Company & EDiS Building Systems, as the 2013 Citizen of the Year. Chase Center, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.

Wednesday, June 12 at 3:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 4:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Thursday, June 13 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting with reporters who write for African-American publications and those who cover a race beat for national publications.  The African-American Media Roundtable will feature topics including job creation, healthcare, education, and Senate Democrats’ efforts to advance the lives of African-American families. Senator Coons will lead a discussion of the Supreme Court’s consideration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Friday, June 14 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak at a meeting of Delawareans for Environmental and Economic Development. Approximately 50 people are expected to attend, including members of the State and County Chambers of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, and environmental and development interest groups. Frog Hollow Golf Course, Middletown, DE – Closed to press.

Friday, June 14 at 11:30 a.m. — The Senator will tour the Local 199 Laborers’ International Union of North America. 308 Markus Court, Newark, DE – Closed to press.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Senator Coons applauds White House initiative to increase internet connectivity in classrooms

Senator Coons commended President Obama’s announcement last week of a new White House initiative to bring high-speed Internet access to America’s schools.

ConnectED aims to make high-speed digital connections available to 99 percent of America’s students within the next five years in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission.

“ConnectED represents a vital investment in education and our children,” Chris said. “This effort will modernize public schools and enable a vast improvement in the quality and impact of the education our children receive. The presence of better technology in the classroom will open doors to new teaching and learning opportunities and equip students with the skills they need to get good jobs. I commend the President’s leadership and am excited to see ConnectED implemented in the years to come.”

New high-speed Internet connections will allow schools to benefit from the technological invention and innovation of the American private sector. Digital educational content will enable more interactive learning, and Internet-capable educational devices will increase opportunities to take advantage of online learning resources.

In addition to enhancing connectivity, ConnectED will invest in training teachers to use educational technology effectively in the classroom. The Department of Education will work with states and local school districts to increase funding for professional development to support educators in their efforts to use technological tools for teaching.

In Delaware, the State Board of Education, Department of Technology & Information, Department of Education, and Center for Educational Technology have all been working hard on bringing opportunities to increase broadband access and digital technology to schools. ConnectED will build on that momentum and leadership on these issues in Delaware.

ICYMI: Congress is failing to keep domestic surveillance activities in check

Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote an op-ed in Sunday’s News Journal criticizing Congress for “failing to be an effective check” of the warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. Echoing calls he made on the Senate floor on the FISA Amendments Act in December 2012 and the PATRIOT Act in May 2011, Chris called for more transparency, public scrutiny, and Congressional oversight of domestic surveillance programs.

Congress has a responsibility to ensure these surveillance programs are run in a manner that is transparent and accountable. The intelligence community should provide the public with specifics on the full breadth of information that has been captured under the FISA Amendments Act, and what it is doing with that information. The administration should also establish a framework for declassifying FISA court opinions about warrantless wiretapping activities performed under this law. I voted for amendments that would have accomplished both.

Delawareans deserve a full and informed debate about our nation’s intelligence-gathering procedures and their intrusion on our privacy rights, as well as a Congress that insists on keeping our nation safe and respects our most cherished privacy protections.

 Click here to read the full op-ed on the News Journal’s website.

Governors of 23 states call for MLP parity

A coalition of governors from 23 states wrote to Senator Coons Thursday to thank him for his efforts to create cheaper, cleaner energy. In the letter, the governors called for the passage of the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act. The legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

The bill would make it easier and cheaper for investors to fund a broad range of clean energy projects including wind, solar, fuel cells, and energy efficient buildings. The Governors Wind Energy Coalition’s letter states that “the Master Limited Partnership structure can help reduce the cost of capital and attract more investors to our states.”

The legislation expands access to a business structure known as "master limited partnerships." Since 1987, the ability to form a master limited partnership has been mostly limited to projects involving oil and gas pipelines. This has allowed those industries to explode in size and attract huge amounts of investment. This letter reflects that the reality that equal access to financing for all sources of energy makes sense, regardless of party or regional affiliation. From Hawaii to Iowa and from Maryland to Montana, governors see that master limited partnerships make sense and passage of Senator Coons’ legislation is a step towards a better energy future.

The following states are members of the Governors Wind Energy Coalition: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Washington

Senator Coons helps reintroduce bill to prevent LGBT bullying in schools

Senator Chris Coons teamed up with 30 of his colleagues to reintroduce the Student Non-Discrimination Act on Tuesday to help protect public school students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Bullying is destroying the lives of too many children and ripping the fabric of our communities apart,” Chris, an outspoken advocate on LGBT issues, said. “We must protect students from these harmful acts and ensure all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are able to learn in an environment that’s free from discrimination. I encourage my colleagues to stand on the side of equality.”

In addition to being reintroduced on its own, the Student Non-Discrimination Act was added to the Strengthening All Schools Act, which would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act — widely known as “No Child Left Behind.”  The Strengthening All Schools Act was also introduced Tuesday.

Surveys indicate that nearly eight in 10 LGBT students have been bullied. The harassment LGBT youth experience in school deprives them of equal educational opportunities by increasing their likelihood of skipping school, underperforming academically, and eventually dropping out. It can also have a detrimental effect on their physical and mental health. Left unchecked, this harassment can lead to life-threatening violence and suicide.

Under current law, students are protected from discrimination based on gender, race, national origin, and disability but not sexual orientation or gender identity.  The Student Non-Discrimination Act would establish a comprehensive federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

The legislation would also forbid schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior.

Modeled after Title IX, violation of the Student Non-Discrimination Act would result in the loss of federal funding and give victims a legal cause of action for discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) first introduced the legislation in 2010 and reintroduced it in 2011 when Chris was an original cosponsor of the bill.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: June 3 to June 9

Tuesday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Budget Committee hearing, “The Fiscal and Economic Effects of Austerity.” The Committee will receive testimony from:  Larry Summers, PhD, Harvard University; Simon Johnson, PhD, MIT Sloan School of Management and Peterson Institute for International Economics; and Salim Furth, PhD, The Heritage Foundation. 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. – Open to press.

Tuesday, June 4 at 4:00 p.m. — The Senator will join the Congressional delegation in hosting a reception honoring the young Delawareans who’ve received Congressional nominations and accepted their appointment to the U.S. Service Academy academies. SVC-201/00, Capitol Visitors Center, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate until 4:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Thursday, June 6 at 4:00 p.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate until 5:00 p.m.  Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Friday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak at a Food Bank of Delaware event unveiling its new mobile pantry vehicle. Bank of America has donated $50,000 to support the new mobile pantry vehicle to help 30 to 35 individuals receive assistance and educational information at each designated pantry distribution. 1624 Jessup Street, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.

Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the unveiling of Justin E. Townsend’s name being added to the Delaware Firemen's Memorial in Dover. Park Drive and Mirror Lake, Dover, DE – Open to press.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

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How Delaware has benefited from the Bulletproof Vest Partnership

Delaware law enforcement agencies have received federal funding to help purchase nearly 4,000 pieces of life-saving body armor through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership in the last five years alone. Here's a look at the data on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, as provided by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs.

Eight of Senator Coons’ amendments now part of immigration bill

By the end of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s five-day markup of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, members had approved eight of Senator Coons’ amendments. The Committee voted 13-5 to approve the amended version of S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, on Tuesday night.

Coons1 - E-Verify Notification
As amended, this amendment strengthens privacy protections by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to establish procedures to notify individuals whenever their E-Verify record is accessed, and to provide direct notification whenever E-Verify returns a “non-confirmation” or “further action notice”, which will help individuals protect their identity and will combat fraud and misuse of the system.
- Adopted by voice vote on May 20

Coons2 – Limitation on Dangerous Deportation Practices
As amended, this amendment places strict limitations on the dangerous practice of repatriating undocumented immigrants in the middle of the night. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue a report on how its deportation practices mitigate the threats that migrants face immediately after deportation.
- Adopted as amended on May 14 

Coons3 - Mustafa Akarsu Local Guard Force Support Act
This amendment allows the surviving spouse and children of an employee of the United States government abroad killed in the line of duty to qualify for a Special Immigrant Visa, so long as the employee has served for 15 years and provided that a Foreign Service Officer endorses the application.
- Adopted by voice vote on May 21

Coons5 - Discovery Obligation for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
Under current law, immigrants in removal are entitled to non-privileged, unclassified documents regarding their status, but are required to file a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain them. This amendment streamlines the process by requiring the government to produce those documents up front, eliminating the three- to six-month delay that accompanies the Freedom of Information Act requests, consistent with other laws concerning confidentiality, privilege, and national security.  This amendment will lead to the more expeditious resolution of removal cases, saving time, detention costs, and court resources.
- Adopted by voice vote on May 20

Coons6 – Detention Statistics Tracking
As amended, this amendment requires the Executive Office of Immigration Review, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Patrol to better maintain and report information pertaining to immigrants in deportation proceedings, including: authority for custodial detention; place of detention and apprehension; number of days in each detention location; immigration charges against the alien; the status of the alien’s removal proceedings; internal custody determinations by ICE and the basis therefor; the reasons for ultimate release, if applicable; and whether the alien is represented by counsel.
- Adopted as amended by voice vote on May 20

Coons8 - Asylum Clock
Under current law, asylum applicants are entitled to a work authorization 180 days after filing a non-frivolous petition. However, Immigration Judges often stop that “clock” due to reasons completely unrelated to the merits of the asylum claim, including delays requested by DHS.  Immigration Judges are encouraged to meet efficiency metrics under a clock managed by EOIR (a division of DOJ), but under current policy, DHS uses this same clock to deny asylum applicants work authorization to which they would otherwise be entitled. This amendment de-couples the clocks and clarify that asylum applicants receive work authorization 180 days after filing a non-frivolous petition.
- Adopted by voice vote on May 20

Coons10 - Non-discriminatory Access to Licensure
This amendment provides that DREAMers and immigrants on the new Registered Provisional Immigrant (“RPI”) status have nondiscriminatory access to professional, commercial, and business licenses.  This amendment only protects immigrants who are qualified to receive licenses.  It will ensure that these professionals and business owners abide by regulations that protect public safety and public health.
- Adopted as amended on May 10

Coons12 - Torture Victims Protection Act
The immigration bill provides that persons who are found liable under the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 are excludable and subject to removal.  The TVPA applies to torturers but not against those who conduct genocide, war crimes, and widespread or systemic attacks on civilian population.  This amendment amends the TVPA to cover those acts.
- Adopted by voice vote on May 20

Blumenthal8 - Limitation of Enforcement Raids in Schools, Places of Worship, and Funerals
Senator Coons introduced a virtually identical version, but withdrew it and cosponsored Senator Blumenthal’s amendment. As amended, this amendment limits the ability of ICE and CBP from targeting schools, hospitals, and places of worship for enforcement raids, unless authorized by a high-level Department official or necessary in the event of an emergency.
- Adopted by voice vote on May 20

Hatch9 – STEM Education Fund
As amended, this amendment, which Senator Coons cosponsored, creates a STEM Education and Training Fund to promote education initiatives that will help meet the needs of the new economy. The STEM Fund concept was first introduced in the Hatch-Coons-Rubio-Klobuchar bill entitled the Immigration Innovation Act.  This amendment recognizes the need to not only fill the existing skills gap in STEM fields with foreign-born talent, but also to invest in future generations born here at home.    The amendment also provides funds for STEM capacity building at Minority Serving Institutions and for new “American Dream Accounts,” to help low-income students trace a path to successful careers in STEM fields.
- Adopted by voice vote on May 14

A birthday surprise for Senator Franken

As it became clear that Day Five of the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup of the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill would stretch into the night Tuesday, Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) paused to mark the 62nd birthday of Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.). After a robust round of applause, Senator Franken noted that he'd planned to have dinner with his wife and daughter that night, but would instead stay for the markup.

Senator Coons, who has sat next to Senator Franken since joining the Committee, was ready to make it up to his friend with a celebratory cupcake.

"This isn't really speeding the bill along, is it," Senator Franken quipped, hoping to move the attention off of him.

Senator Franken inserted the provided candle into his cupcake, prompting Chairman Leahy to warn that lighting it might set off a fire alarm.

"Then we'd have to all leave," Senator Franken offered, feining concern to a hearty laugh.

The cupcake was Crumbs' "Happy Birthday" flavor, described as "Vanilla cake mixed with rainbow sprinkles, filled with vanilla buttercream mixed with rainbow sprinkles and topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting edged with rainbow sprinkles and a yellow rosette in the center."