Chairman Coons, Africa Subcommittee will examine President’s Power Africa initiative

Energy poverty is one of the most significant challenges facing Africa today. Seventy percent of Sub-Saharan Africans ­ – and 85 percent of those living rural areas – ­ are currently living without access to electricity.

Pervasive energy poverty undermines economic growth and development goals in health, education, and institution-building across the continent. Businesses have repeatedly cited the lack of reliable energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa as a more significant impediment to doing business than corruption, access to capital, and other challenges. More than 90 million schoolchildren across the continent lack access to this basic educational resource and 30 percent of health facilities are without electricity. Toxic fumes from kerosene ­– the chemical used to light homes – lead to more than 3 million deaths per year, more than HIV/AIDs and malaria combined.

The Power Africa initiative, launched by President Obama in June 2013, seeks to double the number of individuals with access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by producing at least 10,000 megawatts of more efficient, cost effective, and sustainable electricity generation capacity on the continent.  By 2020, it aims to increase electricity access for at least 20 million new households and commercial entities, enhance the energy resource management capabilities of partner countries, and increase regional cross-border energy trade.

To achieve these goals, the U.S. government and private sector have made approximately $20 billion in commitments to expanding energy access and generation across Sub-Saharan Africa in the next five years, especially in the six Power Africa focus countries – Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.

Senator Coons, chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, will chair a hearing on Thursday to examine questions surrounding Power Africa’s scope, implementation and sustainability. The hearing will feature testimony from witnesses leading Power Africa’s implementation, including USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa Earl Gast, OPIC Executive Vice President Mimi Alemayehou, and Ex-Im Africa Director Rick Angiuoni. Additional witnesses include Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation; Paul Hinks, CEO of Symbion Power; Del Renigar, Senior Council for Global Government Affairs Policy for General Electric; and Tom Hart, U.S. Executive Director of the ONE Campaign. Their testimony will help to inform the Foreign Relations Committee’s future consideration of legislation to provide congressional authorization for Power Africa.

The hearing will be held Thursday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing Room, 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Click here to view a live webcast of the hearing.

Senator Coons questioned Secretary of State John Kerry about funding for the Power Africa initiative at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations earlier this month. Click here to watch their exchange.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: March 24 to March 30

Tuesday, March 25 at 3:50 p.m. – The Senator will attend a hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch on the budgets for the Capitol Police, Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Secretary of the Senate. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine, Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer, and Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson will testify. 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Appropriations Committee’s Vince Morris at 202-224-1010. 

Wednesday, March 26 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting with Hispanic business leaders and local chambers of commerce. Topics for discussion will include job creation and strengthening the economy. Maria Cabrera, Wilmington City Council Member At-Large will join Senator Coons for the discussion. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, March 26 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.

Wednesday, March 26 at 4:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend a Foreign Relations Committee hearing entitled “Syria After Geneva: Next Steps for U.S. Policy.” Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson 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, March 27 at 9:45 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, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will chair a hearing of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs entitled “Powering Africa’s Future: Examining the Power Africa Initiative.” The hearing will examine questions surrounding Power Africa’s scope, implementation and sustainability as an important tool in the fight against energy poverty. The committee will hear testimony from witnesses including USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa Earl Gast and OPIC Executive Vice President Mimi Alemayehou. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Jamie Serlin at 202-224-5042.

Thursday, March 27 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at a meeting on judicial nominations hosted by the Committee for a Fair Judiciary. Senator Coons is chair of Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Bankruptcy and the Courts. S-120, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Senator Coons praises launch of Climate Data Initiative

Senator Coons praised the President’s launch this week of a new Climate Data Initiative, part of the administration’s national strategy to combat climate change first announced by President Obama last June.

The initiative is an effort to make climate-relevant information and resources collected by the federal government more accessible to the public. New datasets, web services, and tools related to coastal flooding and sea level rise will now be available on the new Climate.data.gov to help city planners, resource managers, farmers, hospitals, and businesses better understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change. An innovation challenge also launched this week will encourage entrepreneurs, technologists, and developers to create new tools that increase public awareness of coastal flood risks and other vulnerabilities.

 “In Delaware, we’ve already begun to see the impacts of climate change on our businesses, our infrastructure, and our local environment,” Senator Coons said. “We can’t fight climate change by denying it, but we can make our communities safer and our economy more secure by sharing valuable tools and information that will help us prepare for the changes to come. The new Climate Data Initiative will leverage the tremendous data-gathering capacity of the federal government to fuel private sector innovation and address our most pressing climate challenges. This is an important step that will help our communities take smarter, more coordinated action on climate change.”

Read more about the White House’s Climate Data Initiative here: http://1.usa.gov/1gPGWd5

Last week, Senator Coons and 27 of his colleagues held an all night session on the Senate floor to urge action on climate change. You can watch and read Senator Coons’ remarks here: http://1.usa.gov/N46Hyd

What We’re Reading: Making the AIDS crisis worse

The Washington Post published an article Thursday on the public health consequences of recently enacted anti-homosexuality laws in Nigeria, Uganda, and elsewhere – specifically citing their negative impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

It is the job of public health officials to account for the reality of human behavior in pursuit of the public good. Anti-gay laws complicate that task in practical ways. MSM who are afraid of prosecution and violence are less likely to attend meetings where they are given education, condoms and lubricants. Less likely to be honest with their physicians about their sexual histories. Less likely to be tested for AIDS and receive treatment and care. And more likely to inadvertently infect others.

When Western governments lecture African countries about their retrograde views, it can feed a populist, anti-colonial backlash. When donors threaten to cut off aid, it can cause lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists to cringe — fearing they will be scapegoated for the punishment of their whole country.

What might be more effective is a forceful health-related message. This is an area in which civil rights — starting out with a simple zone of personal privacy — is a requirement of public health. Nations such as Nigeria and Uganda are committed to ambitious objectives in fighting AIDS. Those goals are unachievable while any group is targeted for discrimination and excluded from effective outreach. 

Senator Coons, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations African Affairs Subcommittee, spoke out against the enactment of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill in February calling the law “a setback for human rights around the world” and appeared on MSNBC earlier this month to discuss steps the U.S. can take to combat the law and stand up for Uganda’s LGBT community.

Click here to read the full article on the Washington Post’s website.

Video: Senator Coons questions Secretary Kerry on Africa priorities

Senator Coons, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, questioned Secretary of State John Kerry about funding for the President’s Power Africa initiative, the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, humanitarian challenges in Sudan and South Sudan, wildlife trafficking, and other Africa priorities in the State Department budget at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations on Thursday. Watch the full exchange below. Secretary Kerry’s remarks begin at 4:13.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: March 10 to March 14

Monday, March 10 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will host his third annual Opportunity: Africa Conference with keynote speaker President Bill Clinton. The conference links Delaware businesses, faith communities and individuals with top experts on Africa, providing insight on trade opportunities and issues like human rights, sustainable development, food security, and global health. Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Tuesday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak at the Judicial Conference of the United States. He will discuss his work to ensure full staffing of the courts as well as legislation he introduced to create 91 new judgeships to relieve overburdened courts. 1 First Street NE, Supreme Court Building, East Conference Room, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Tuesday, March 11 at 2:15 p.m. – The Senator will attend a Foreign Relations Committee business meeting. The committee will consider legislation to address the crisis in Ukraine. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Foreign Relations Committee’s Adam Sharon at 202-224-4651.

Tuesday, March 11 at 2:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend an Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch hearing on the FY2015 budget requests for the CBO and the GAO. GAO Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro and CBO Director Dr. Douglas Elmendorf will testify. 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Appropriations Committee’s Vince Morris at 202-224-1010. 

Tuesday, March 11 at 5:15 p.m. – The Senator will speak at a Senate Chicken Caucus reception with representatives from the National Chicken Council Executive Committee who are in town for their annual meeting. Senator Coons is the co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Chicken Caucus. Capitol Visitors Center, SVC 209-08, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, March 12 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting with women CEOs. Topics for the discussion will include job creation, STEM education, and fostering women’s leadership. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, March 12 at 9:45 a.m. – The Senator will testify about his FAST Voting Act at a Senate Rules Committee Hearing entitled Election Administration: Innovation, Administrative Improvements, and Cost Savings. The FAST Voting act would create a competitive grant program to encourage states to aggressively pursue election reform. 301 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact the Rules Committee at 202-224-6352.

Wednesday, March 12 at 11:20 a.m. – The Senator will speak at a meeting with the Delaware League of Local Governments. The DLLG is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan association of city, town, village, and county governments that works to improve and assist local governments through legislative advocacy at the state and federal levels. Capitol Visitors Center, SVC 215, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 2:30 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery. 

Wednesday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend an Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Homeland Security’s FY2015 budget request. DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson will testify. 138 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Appropriations Committee’s Vince Morris at 202-224-1010. 

Wednesday, March 12 at 3:15 p.m. – The Senator will attend a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on national security & foreign policy priorities in the FY2015 International Affairs Budget. Secretary of State John Kerry will testify. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Foreign Relations Committee’s Adam Sharon at 202-224-4651.

Wednesday, March 12 at 4:30 p.m. – The Senator will speak at a meeting with U.S. ambassadors to sub-Saharan Africa. Senator Coons will discuss his work and priorities in the Africa Subcommittee with ambassadors gathered for the Annual Chiefs of Mission Conference. State Department, Dean Acheson Auditorium, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Thursday, March 13 at 9:30 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, March 13 at 6:45 p.m. – The Senator will attend a dinner discussion hosted by No Labels with guest Bill Gates and moderator David Brooks. G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Friday, March 14 at 5:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Delaware State Education Association Celebration of Leadership Reception. Dover Downs, Dover, DE. – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Note: Schedule is subject to change. 

Video: Senator Coons talks foreign policy in Ukraine, Uganda on MSNBC

Senator Coons, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Africa Subcommittee, joined MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki Sunday morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and actions the U.S. can take to combat Uganda’s unacceptable anti-LGBT law, including scaling back assistance related to police training, opening up avenues for asylum for those fleeing oppression, and considering sanctions and/or visa denials for those who incite violence against the LGBT community. “We need to make sure that our rhetoric is matched by our actions,” Chris said. Watch the full interview below.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: March 3 to March 7

Monday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the 22nd Annual Sussex County Science Fair. The mission of the SCSF is to promote interest in science and scientific investigation for young people. The fair gives students the opportunity to pursue innovation and showcase their skills in the fields of science, mathematics and engineering. Sussex Academy for the Arts and Sciences, 21150 Airport Rd., Georgetown, DE. – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Monday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will visit with Polytech High School students, teachers, and administrators and tour classrooms to learn more about what teachers are doing to prepare students for the 21st century workforce. Polytech High School, 823 Walnut Shade Road, Woodside, DE. – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Monday, March 3 at 8:15 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Whitehall Neck Sportsman Club’s Wild Game Dinner. Leipsic Volunteer Fire Company, 318 Main Street, Dover, DE.

Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. – The Senator will speak about manufacturing jobs at the American Small Manufacturers Coalition ‘Hill Day’ Opening Reception. The reception will kick off ASMC’s annual ‘Hill Day’ event and celebrate attendees’ manufacturing achievements. Senator Coons will discuss his work to grow American manufacturing as the leader of the Senate’s Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign. Capitol Visitors Center, SVC 212-10, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press. 

Wednesday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Foreign Relations Committee working coffee with the Dalai Lama. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, March 5 at 11:40 a.m. –The Senator will attend a Budget Committee hearing on the President’s FY2015 Budget. OMB Director Sylvia Burwell will testify. 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Senate Budget Committee’s Eli Zupnick at 202-224-5398.

Wednesday, March 5 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, March 6 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, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Foreign Relations Committee hearing entitled Syria Spillover: The Growing Threat of Terrorism and Sectarianism in the Middle East. The committee will hear testimony from Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Derek Chollet,  and others. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Foreign Relations Committee’s Adam Sharon at 202-224-4651.

Friday, March 7 at 8:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend the annual state-wide SkillsUSA competition with participants from all of Delaware’s vocational-technical schools. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Competition winners will go on to compete at the National SkillsUSA event in June. Hogdson Vo-Tech High School, 2575 Glasgow Avenue, Newark, DE. – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054.

Friday, March 7 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will co-host the Delaware delegation’s New Castle County job fair. The fair, which will bring together over 70 employers with hundreds of jobs to fill, will also offer workshops on applying for federal jobs (10 a.m.) and a motivational seminar by S. Renee Smith (11 a.m.). The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE. – Open to press. Contact Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054. 

Friday, March 7 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will keynote the Port of Wilmington Maritime Society’s luncheon. Senator Coons will discuss his work to support investment in the port and the ongoing Delaware River deepening project. Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Manufacturing Update for February 2014

1. LATEST POLICY

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Executive Order — Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America’s Businesses
The President issued an executive order cutting processing and approval times from days to minutes for small businesses that export American-made goods and services by completing the International Trade Data System (ITDS) by December 2016.
More: White House executive order

Announcement — The President Announces Two New Manufacturing Hubs
The President announced two new manufacturing innovation institutes.  A Detroit-area consortium will focus on lightweight and modern metals manufacturing, while a Chicago consortium will concentrate on digital manufacturing and design technologies. The President also announced a competition for a new manufacturing innovation institute to build U.S. strength in the manufacturing of advanced composites.
More: White House press release

This update is provided by the Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons on behalf of the Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative. For more information, visit coons.senate.gov/manufacturing or email jj_singh@coons.senate.gov.  

Click here to download this month’s full newsletter as a PDF, or read it below.

New initiative will promote safety improvements for oil by rail

While rail transportation has proven an efficient means of transporting North America’s growing supply of crude oil, increased oil by rail traffic has also raised serious environmental and safety concerns in recent years.

Following several recent, high-profile accidents by trains transporting crude oil – including a December derailment in North Dakota in which 400,000 gallons of crude oil were spilled – the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Association of American Railroads (AAR) have come together to announce the roll out of new safety measures for crude by rail operations.

The agreement institutes an array of new safety measures to prevent train derailments, including implementation of new, more effective breaking technology and traffic routing technology that determines the safest and most secure routes, increased track inspections, and reduced speed requirements through designated urban areas.

“Our rail safety procedures must keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of North American oil production,” Senator Coons said. “In January, a derailment in Philadelphia nearly ended in disaster, and over the last year, devastating crashes in communities from North Dakota to Alabama have underscored the need to update and strengthen freight safety measures. The improved safety procedures announced by DOT and AAR are an important step in what must be a sustained effort to protect our communities and environment from future disasters.” 

North American oil production has expanded rapidly in recent years thanks to growing production in the Canadian oil sands and increased shale oil production in North Dakota, Montana, and Texas. Nearly 70 percent of the United States’ crude oil demand is now supplied from production in North America, displacing imports from overseas. This crude oil boom has created new transportation challenges as producers have increasingly turned to rail to transport oil to refineries in market hubs across the U.S., including PBF’s refinery in Delaware City.

According to rail industry estimates, U.S. freight railroads carried more than 400,000 carloads of crude oil in 2013, compared to 9,500 carloads in 2008. In just the last three years, crude imports by rail from Canada have increased more than 20-fold. PBF’s Delaware City Refinery, which directly supports 500 jobs in Delaware, receives 1-2 unit trains of Bakken crude oil shipments per day.