Senator Coons applauds launch of new company employing former foster care youth

WILMINGTON, Del. – Senator Coons joined Governor Markell, Congressman Carney, and local community leaders Thursday for the grand opening of popdot, a new sign production and installation company in Wilmington’s West End neighborhood that has committed to hiring disadvantaged youth.

The business was launched as a partnership between Sir Speedy Wilmington and West End Neighborhood House – with help from a $160,000 Community Economic Development Projects (CED) grant from the Department of Health and Human Services – and is dedicated to providing career opportunities for former foster care youth in Wilmington.

Danielle Cunningham is one such youth, who shared the story of her journey after aging out of the foster care system and finding herself homeless at age 18. Danielle took advantage of housing through West End Neighborhood House and job training opportunities at Wilmington’s Bright Spot Ventures and is now beginning her career as a popdot employee.

 “What was most striking to hear from you, Danielle, was that this is a place where you can work together, and not just have great skills, not just have an opportunity at employment, but have a family, have a place where at work you are sharing with each other your values and your journey,” Chris said.

popdot is one of just 20 ventures across the country to submit a successful competitive CED grant application this year. The objective of the CED program is to support businesses that develop new products and services and create jobs for low-income individuals. To meet these goals, popdot has pledged to employ 75 percent low-income staff, provide full-time jobs with benefits that pay livable wages, and reinvest 51 percent of its profits into the community.

“Many of us recognize that it is small business owners, its entrepreneurs, its people who work hard day in and day out who create most of the jobs in our country and who are the real engines of vitality in our communities,” Chris said. 

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: April 14 to April 17

Monday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will visit the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk with members of the Delaware Small Business Administration. As winter finally comes to a close, Delaware’s beach season is fast approaching. The SBA will provide the Senator with a walking tour of the area, highlighting new businesses that are growing or seeking assistance through the SBA’s resources. Rehoboth Beach, DE – Open to press. Contact Jennifer S. Pilcher (SBA) at 302-573-6294×222.

Monday, April 14 at 11:30 a.m. – The Senator will visit the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Indian River Inlet with Capt. Kathy Moore, Commander, Sector DE Bay. The Senator will tour the station and meet with active duty USCG men and women. 39373 Inlet Rd. Rehoboth Beach, DE – Closed to press. 

Wednesday, April 16 at 6:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend and speak at the 58^th Annual Delmarva Poultry Industry Booster Banquet. Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, 500 Glen Ave, Salisbury, MD – Open to press. Contact Lori Morrow at morrow@dpichicken.com  

Thursday, April 17 at 8:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak at Glasgow High School while attending a World Cultures class on Africa. He will address the class of 30 Junior ROTC students about current affairs on the continent and how the U.S plays a role in different regions. 1901 S. College Ave, Newark, DE – Open to press. Contact Major Barry Horton at HORTONB@christina.k12.de.us

Thursday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the grand opening of popdot event. popdot is a large output printing/graphics company and will employ young people from Wilmington’s West End. 1010 North Union Street, Wilmington DE – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054. 

Thursday, April 17 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will host a Bronze Star Medal Ceremony for David Strawbridge. David is receiving the Bronze Star for his activities in Afghanistan from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Air Force. 1105 North Market St. Suite 100, Wilmington, DE – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054 or David Strawbridge at 302-562-9665.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Senator Coons talks financial responsibility with Shortlidge Elementary School students

Photo credit: Evan Krape, University of Delaware

Senator Coons, along with members of the Delaware Bankers Association, visited with 4th grade students from Shortlidge Elementary School as part of the 16th annual Teach Children to Save Day. Chris joined Mrs. Mahotiere’s class and read from the book The Great Investo and The Secret Saver.

The Teach Children to Save program is a state-wide outreach program sponsored by a partnership of the Center for Economic Education & Entrepreneurship and the Delaware Bankers Association. The goal of the program is to draw attention to the importance of teaching children about saving at an early age. The program is held in April as part of Financial Literacy Month. More than 285 volunteer bankers are visiting 92 schools this week to teach a lesson on saving using the Great Investo book.

This year’s Teach Children to Save Day lesson is based off Greg Koseluk’s new book The Great Investo and the Secret Saver. The book was written and illustrated by Koseluk, a member of the Delaware Bankers Association. Koseluk created the book specifically for the 2014 Teach Children to Save Day event with the assistance of a grant from Capital One.

Senator Coons touts new report on economic impact of Northeast Corridor rail service

Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a daily Amtrak rider, touted a new report released this week on the economic impacts of rail service in the Northeast Corridor (NEC). The report, produced by the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission, describes the NEC as “an engine of economic activity” for the region and details the immense costs associated with service disruptions along the corridor.

“The Northeast Corridor rail network is a vital economic artery for Delaware and the entire region,” Chris said. “While ridership has steadily increased, critical infrastructure investments needed to sustain Amtrak’s growth have been repeatedly deferred. This report demonstrates just what we stand to lose if we fail to invest in repairing and modernizing our infrastructure. Our economy, our communities, and millions of jobs depend on safe and efficient rail service along the Northeast Corridor. We’ve got to make strong, sustained investments now to ensure this vital service will be there for generations to come.”

The 457-mile NEC is one of the busiest and most complex rail corridors in the world, carrying 750,000 daily commuter rail and intercity passengers and 350,000 car-loads of freight each year. Workers traveling the NEC contribute $50 billion annually to the American economy. According to the report, the unexpected loss of the NEC, even for a single day, would cost up to $100 million per day as a result of higher congestion on roadways and lost productivity.

Other key findings from the report:

• Seven million jobs are located within five miles of a NEC rail station, almost a third of all jobs in the NEC Region.
• More than half of flight delays nationwide originate at New York and Philadelphia area airports.  Amtrak relieves this pressure by carrying more intercity passengers for trips within the NEC Region than all airlines combined.
• The NEC connects the national freight rail network to east coast ports, linking manufacturing plants in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, and North Dakota to international customers.
• Automobile manufacturers, including Ford, Toyota, and Mitsubishi, use the NEC to bring their products to market. For one major automobile manufacturer, approximately 60 percent of its total exports use the NEC to reach ports in Maryland and New Jersey.
• Within one mile of NEC stations, 59 percent of all jobs are in knowledge industries – a far higher rate than the national average of 42 percent.
• 263 colleges and universities are located within five miles of NEC stations, totaling 435,000 students. The region is also home to a concentration of some of the nation’s top hospitals, medical research institutions, and cultural attractions. 

The complete report is available here: The Northeast Corridor and the American Economy.

Senator Coons spoke on the Senate floor on April 10 urging his colleagues to support critical investments in Amtrak. Click here to watch and read his remarks.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: April 7 to April 13

Monday, April 7 at 8:00 a.m. – The Senator will co-host the annual Congressional Youth Conference with members of the Delaware Congressional delegation. More than 70 Delaware high school juniors and seniors will join the Congressional delegation for breakout sessions on cybersecurity, leadership through service, and digital media’s impact on news. Delaware State University Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Center, 1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Monday, April 7 at 11:15 a.m. – The Senator will visit Poly Technical High School to tour the school, visit with students, and eat lunch at the school’s student-run restaurant, the Looking Glass. Poly Technical High School, 823 Walnut Shade Rd, Woodside, DE  – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Tuesday, April 8 at 2:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend a Judiciary Committee business meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703. 

Wednesday, April 9 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will address 4-H youth and leaders at the 4-H Congressional Breakfast honoring program alumni. 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization, committed to empowering youth of all backgrounds to reach their full potential. G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, April 9 at 11:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Judiciary Committee hearing examining the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger and the impact on consumers. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703. 

Wednesday, April 9 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at a Sickle Cell/Lung Disease Briefing hosted by the NIH Lung and Blood Institute and the American Thoracic Society. SVC 210-12 Capitol Visitors Center, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, April 9 at 2:00 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, April 10 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak at an event on trade-secret theft hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and CREATE. Senator Coons will discuss the challenge of trade secrets theft, identify solutions, and discuss best practices. 592 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Thursday, April 10 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend a hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on the FY 2015 Budget Request for the Department of Commerce. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will testify. 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Appropriations Committee’s Vince Morris at 202-224-1010. 

Thursday, April 10 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on International Development Priorities in FY 2015 Budget. USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will testify. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Foreign Relations Committee’s Adam Sharon at 202-224-4651. 

Thursday, April 10 at 12:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend the 2014 National Make a Difference Day Awards Luncheon.  The event will honor America’s top volunteers and special guests who inspire volunteerism across the nation. National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Friday, April 11 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend Teach Children to Save Day, an event led by the Delaware Banker’s Association as part of a national effort to educate elementary school children about financial literacy. Senator Coons will join representatives from Delaware banks who will be volunteering at local schools to teach lessons on personal finance. Shortlidge Elementary School, 100 W 18th St, Wilmington DE – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Friday, April 11 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will host the second in a series of roundtable discussions entitled, “Winning the Fight Against Urban Unemployment” with a focus on generating actionable ideas for solving the problem locally and legislatively. Goodwill, 300 Lea Blvd, Wilmington DE – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Saturday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will deliver keynote remarks at the Annual Meeting of the Greater Lewes Foundation. The GLF will present its annual Community Service awards during the meeting. Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Saturday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Annual Gala for Exceptional Care for Children. Chase Center, Wilmington, DE.

Sunday April 13 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Homecoming Ceremony for the 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion. The unit’s 324 members have served in Afghanistan since June 2013. Delaware State University Alumni Stadium, 1200 North DuPont Hwy, Dover DE – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Note: Schedule is subject to change. 

Senator Coons convenes bipartisan roundtable on innovation

Senator Coons, along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), met with chief executive officers and senior executives from the nation’s leading technology, venture capital, and e-commerce, companies Tuesday to discuss key issues affecting American innovation. Executives from Bloom Energy, CISCO, Oracle, and other leading technology firms shared their perspectives on proposed trade agreements, corporate tax reform, intellectual property protection, and other policy priorities.

“America is the world’s leading source of cutting-edge technology,” Senator Coons said. “The technology companies represented today employ nearly a million Americans and are key drivers of our innovation economy. Congress can and should support American innovators by working together to open up markets abroad, protect intellectual property, and build a competitive tax code that incentivizes innovation. I am grateful to all the industry leaders who participated in today’s conversation and look forward to continuing to work with them to promote our global competitiveness.”

Senator Coons has established himself as a leader on innovation policy by introducing a series of bills that support research and development, and help innovative small businesses grow to create jobs. He introduced the Innovators Job Creation Act with Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) earlier this year and the Startup Innovation Credit Act with Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) last January to help startups and other small companies take advantage of valuable R&D tax credits.

He also teamed up with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) this year to introduce legislation that would modernize the United States’ national lab system to make the innovation pipeline more efficient and give labs new flexibility to partner with the private sector.

Senator Coons was recognized as a 2014 TechVoice Champion earlier this year by CompTIA and TECNA, two technology policy groups representing thousands of U.S. technology firms, for his work in support of innovation and America’s small and medium-sized technology firms.

Senator Coons’ office accepting summer 2014 internship applications

Interested in working for Senator Coons in Washington or Delaware? The Office of Senator Chris Coons is seeking interns for offices in Washington, DC, Wilmington, DE, and Dover, DE for the summer of 2014. Responsibilities include answering phones, greeting visitors, sorting mail, handling requests for flags and tours, and assisting front office as well as legislative staff. Summer internship positions are full time. Please note that all positions are unpaid, but may qualify for academic credit if eligible. 

This position requires outstanding organizational abilities, strong communication skills, attention to detail, poise, flexibility, and an ability to prioritize in an extremely fast-paced office. Motivated, hard-working, and professional applicants looking to get a taste of Capitol Hill or state congressional offices are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should e-mail Eric Wall at Eric_Wall@coons.senate.gov with the subject line reading “Intern” and include a cover letter, resume, and one brief (2-3 pages) writing sample. Applicants should also specify which offices they are interested in applying to. Applications received by May 15 will be given priority. Delaware ties a plus, but not required. Absolutely no walk-ins or phone calls.

Manufacturing Update for March 2014

1. LATEST POLICY

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Hearing — Aviation Competitiveness
Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) held a hearing of Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security on March 13.  The hearing focused on challenges facing the U.S. aviation industry, and what steps the U.S. can take to maintain its leadership in the global market and create American jobs.  Sen. Cantwell called for five steps to boost U.S. competitiveness:

1. Increase investment in STEM education and apprenticeship programs to ensure a robust supply of skilled workers;
2. Use the WTO to challenge unfair subsidies provided by foreign governments;
3. Continue export financing through the Export-Import Bank;
4. Modernize the nation’s air traffic control system by implementing the NextGen satellite-based system;
5. Invest in R&D for composite materials.

Representatives of Aerospace Industries Association, Airlines for America, the AFL-CIO, and Boeing testified. 
More: Cantwell press release | Hearing video 1 | Hearing video 2

News — Franken tours E.J. Ajax Metal Forming Solutions
Sen. Franken recently toured E.J. Ajax Metal Forming Solutions, where he spoke with representatives from local technical colleges, local business, and HIRED, a Twin Cities provider of job skills training for disadvantaged job seekers.
More: National Skills Coalition

News — Sen Coons and Rep Kelly meet with small manufacturers
Members of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition came to Congress to meet with Sen Coons (D-DE) and Rep Kelly (R-PA) to discuss the Manufacturing Extension Partnership on March 4^th and 5^th.
More: ASMC

News — DuPont hosts engineering events to inspire young people
DuPont recently hosted two local events to highlight the impact engineers can have on society and encourage young people to consider the STEM professions.  During DuPont’s sponsorship of national Engineers Week, the company invited middle school students to present a model of a city they had designed during a nationwide competition called Future Cities. 
More: News Journal

Interview — The importance of skills training
Michael Tamasi, CEO of AccuRounds, recently spoke with Fox Business about what is needed to boost hiring, highlighting the importance of skills training.
More: Fox Business

News — Precision Plus hosts student manufacturing day
Mike Reader, CEO of Precision Plus in Elkhorn, WI and a member of the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) recently produced a student Manufacturing Day Panel at Elkhorn Area High School. Over 200 students from five area schools listened to local manufacturing companies describe the opportunities and their personal insights on local manufacturing. 2.7 million U.S. manufacturing workers are set to retire in the next 3-5 years, and there is a huge deficit in the number of young people applying for jobs in manufacturing.
More: PMPA

Report — Ontario Made: Rethinking Manufacturing in the 21^st Century
A new paper by the University of Toronto examining Ontario’s manufacturing sector provides useful international comparisons for U.S. policymakers.  The authors recommend a focus on advanced manufacturing through a focus on investments in skills, R&D, equipment, and information technology.
More: Mowat Centre

Report — What jobs are being offshored, and where are they going?
A new working paper from economists at UC Berkley and MIT used new data to look at the type of jobs that are being offshored, and where those jobs are going.  The paper finds very few companies offshore their core competencies, but that large manufacturers tend to do so at a significantly higher rate than other sectors.  The majority of offshoring tends to go to locations with costs comparable to the U.S., contrary to popular perception.
More: IRLE | The Economist 

Report — Why you should care about the federal budget
A blog post from Robert Atkinson of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation looks at the implications of the President’s Budget for American manufacturers.  The blog post finds that the budget contained positives, such as funding for NNMI, and shortcomings, such as slower growth in R&D funding.
More: Industry Week

Report — Assessing U.S. corporate tax reform in an age of global competition
A report from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation describes the impact of the corporate income tax on the economy and analyzes the major issues involved in creating tax reform that both increases economic growth and reduces the burden of federal debt.
More: ITIF

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: March 31 to April 6

Tuesday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will chair a Judiciary Committee hearing on nominations. The committee will consider four nominations for District Judge. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Tuesday, April 1 at 2:15 p.m. – The Senator will attend a Foreign Relations Committee business meeting. The committee will consider several treaties on the avoidance of double taxation of income earned by U.S. residents working abroad, as well as a resolution on the humanitarian crisis in Syria. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Foreign Relations Committee’s Adam Sharon at 202-224-4651.

Wednesday, April 2 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting on the need for commonsense drug sentencing reform. Delaware Public Defender Brendan O’Neill will join Senator Coons for the discussion. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, April 2 at 11:15 a.m. – The Senator will speak on the Senate floor with Senator Angus King (I-Maine) in support of legislation to create a national network of manufacturing innovation hubs. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery. Note: Time is tentative. Watch a live webcast here: http://www.coons.senate.gov/floor/

Wednesday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend a hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget for the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence and the implementation of Iran sanctions. 138 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Appropriations Committee’s Vince Morris at 202-224-1010.

Wednesday, April 2 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, April 3 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Judiciary Committee business meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Thursday, April 3 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. 

Saturday, April 5 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will deliver remarks at the Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering (FAME)’s 3^rd Annual National Robotics Day. Established by the DuPont Company in 1977, FAME sponsors programs to promote opportunities for women and minorities in science and engineering. Barclay’s Bank, 125 S. West Street, Wilmington, DE – Open to press. Contact Chonnie Blair at 267-975-3355.

Saturday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m.  – The Senator will deliver remarks at a weatherization education event hosted by Delaware Interfaith Power and Light. The event is designed to empower residents of West Center City Wilmington to save on their electric bills by becoming more efficient in their energy usage. Temple United Church, 602 North Washington Street, Wilmington, DE. – Open to press. Contact John Sykes at 302-703-7086.

Note: Schedule is subject to change. 

What We’re Reading: In Africa, all conservation is local

The New York Times published an op-ed by Kenyan journalist Murithi Mutiga on Wednesday about the importance of engaging local communities in efforts to combat poaching. Community stakeholders, Murithi argues, could be conservationists’ greatest allies in the fight against wildlife-trafficking syndicates.

Wild animals may hold a special place in our global heritage, but all too often they threaten the livelihood of the farmers and herders who live near nature reserves and game parks. Elephants routinely trample precious crops, and carnivores sometimes ravage whole herds of livestock.

Poachers have astutely tapped into this reserve of local grievances — made worse by high rates of poverty and unemployment — and struck up partnerships with people in communities around game parks.

……

Most Kenyans support conservation efforts. But in a country where arable land is exceedingly scarce and about a tenth of the land area is reserved for national parks and reserves, the authorities should take a more sophisticated approach in winning local support for conservation initiatives.

African countries, the author notes, could learn from Nepal, which gives special rights to communities living around major national parks – including royalties of 30 – 50 percent of the proceeds from park entry fees. The result is a local community invested in protecting the park and a massive decline in poaching.

Namibia has also had success with the community-based conservation model. The country’s world-renowned conservancy program has empowered communities to create their own conservancies to manage and sustainably benefit from wildlife on communal land, including through tourism. 

Senator Coons, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations African Affairs Subcommittee, has been a leading voice in the Senate for wildlife conservation and efforts to combat poaching in Africa. His third annual Opportunity: Africa conference, held earlier this month in Wilmington, featured a workshop on ending poaching and protecting Africa’s wildlife led by conservation experts from the State Department and World Wildlife Fund, as well as John Kasaona, a Namibian pioneer of community-based conservation. John was also a featured speaker at a Senate briefing on wildlife trafficking hosted by Senator Coons earlier this month.

Click here to read the full article on the New York Times’ website.