Video: Senator Coons urges colleagues to pass amendment on studies for poultry insurance programs

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) took to the Senate floor on Tuesday afternoon calling on his colleagues to vote for a farm bill amendment he introduced with U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.). The amendment commissions a pair of studies on the feasibility of insurance programs to protect America’s poultry growers from catastrophic loss, such as disease outbreaks, and from bankruptcies of poultry integrators. The amendment is now part of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240), which the Senate is expected to vote later this week.

Video: Senator Coons talks Africa at the Center for Strategic & International Studies

Senator Chris Coons was a featured speaker at the Center for Strategic & International Studies on June 19, 2012. Senator Coons’ speech, entitled, “The Nexus of Security, Development and Governance: Reflections from a Recent Trip to East Africa,” focused on his recent CODEL to East Africa.

Sen. Coons welcomes participants at UD poultry program

Senator Coons visited the University of Delaware on Monday to welcome participants at the Emergency Poultry Disease Response Certificate Program (EPDR). The program runs from June 18 to June 21 and features a consortium of local and international scientists and policy makers.

“This program involves cooperation among all levels of government, as well as commercial producers, backyard flock owners and top-flight research universities,” Chris said. “This is how we get things done in Delaware, and I’m proud we are working to share our knowledge and experience with poultry growers in other countries around the world.”

Chris is an outspoken supporter of Delaware’s poultry farmers. Last week, he joined with Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) to introduce an amendment to the farm bill currently being considered by the Senate that would commission studies on the practicality of insurance policies for farmers in case of a catastrophic event like a poultry company bankruptcy or poultry disease outbreak.

The EPDR Certificate Program is a four-day certificate course taught at the University of Delaware. Participants have the opportunity to learn about emergency procedures developed by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, University of Delaware faculty and agriculture industry professionals for outbreaks of poultry disease. The program also works to help foster closer ties between the United States, foreign officials and poultry industry professionals. This year’s attendees include a global roster of attendees representing countries such as Uganda, Bolivia, Israel and Japan.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work on agriculture.

Click here to learn more about the University of Delaware’s EPDR program.

Senator Coons presents house keys to Mays family

On Friday, Senator Coons attended Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County’s Pavilion Home Dedication, where seven new homes for deserving families were dedicated at 5^th and DuPont Streets in Wilmington.

At the dedication, Chris presented the Mays family with keys to their new home.  Tiffany Mays is a single mother of four who has been raising her children in a cramped apartment badly in need of repairs. Today, her family moves into clean, safe, affordable housing.

The Mays’ new house, and the other six Pavilion Homes located in Wilmington’s Little Italy, were built through a partnership of Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County and Cornerstone West, a division of West End Neighborhood House.   The new homes are equipped with off-street parking, central air and full-size washers and dryers.

“When the Mays family turned the key to their new home, it marked a new beginning,” Chris said.  “We are grateful to Habitat for Humanity for bringing people together in the spirit of fellowship, faith and community. This is a wonderful day for the Mays family and the other new homeowners.”

Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County has been building affordable housing for low-income residents since 1986. They are one of the top three largest Habitat affiliates out of over 200 in the Northeast, with over 185 houses built in New Castle County. June is National Homeownership Month. 

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: June 18 to June 24

Monday, June 18 at 8:00 a.m. — The Senator will speak to participants in the University of Delaware’s Emergency Poultry Disease Response certificate program. The program teaches U.S. and international professionals about preparedness planning, biosecurity and assessment tools, and rapid response techniques and technology, the three critical aspects of successfully managing an outbreak of potentially catastrophic poultry disease. Charles C. Allen, Jr. Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark, DE

Monday, June 18 at 11:00 a.m. — The Senator will speak to the Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber of Commerce about the state of affairs in Washington and legislation he has introduced to help businesses create jobs. King’s Creek Country Club, Rehoboth Beach, DE – Open to Press. Contact: Carol Everhart at 302-542-7547

Monday, June 18 at 1:00 p.m. — The Senator will tour Atlantis Industries, which manufacturers injected-molded plastics for military, automotive, medical and plumbing applications. 1 Park Street, Milton, DE – Closed to Press.

Tuesday, June 19 at 9:00 a.m. — The Senator will be the featured speaker at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Senator Coons’ speech, entitled, “The Nexus of Security, Development and Governance: Reflections from a Recent Trip to East Africa,” will focus on his recent CODEL to East Africa. 1800 K Street NW, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact: Ryan Sickles at 202-775-3140.

Tuesday, June 19 at 2:15 p.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting. Members will consider several nominations and legislation, including S.Res.402, the resolution introduced by Senator Coons condemning Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for committing crimes against human and mass atrocities. S-116, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. 

Tuesday, June 19 at 6:00 p.m. — The Senator will attend the Jefferson Awards 40th Anniversary Celebration. Senator Coons will introduce award recipient David Petraeus, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and retired four-star Army general. DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the implementation of last year’s patent reform legislation. Senator Coons cosponsored and worked aggressively for the passage of America Invents Act, a comprehensive bill designed to update and streamline the patent system in the United States in order to stimulate investment, promote job creation, and increase competitiveness. David J. Kappos, Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, will testify. 226 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to Press. Contact the Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Wednesday, June 20 at 3:00 p.m. — The Senator will meet with the University of Delaware Democracy Project. The goal of the project is to promote civic engagement and a better understanding of citizen responsibilities in a democratic society among young people through a series of education-based services and programs.   SVC-215, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. 

Wednesday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m. — The Senator will speak at an Inter-American Dialogue event about his CODEL to Cuba, Haiti and Colombia earlier this year. The Inter-American Dialogue is a center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs. HVC-215, Capitol Visitors Center, Washington, D.C.

Thursday, June 21 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. The Committee will consider the Justice for All Reauthorization Act, a bill to protect crime victims’ rights, to eliminate the substantial backlog of DNA samples collected from crime scenes and convicted offenders, to improve and expand the DNA testing capacity of federal, state, and local crime laboratories, to increase research and development of new DNA testing technologies, to develop new training programs. Senator Coons is a cosponsor of the legislation, and is chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact the Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Friday, June 22 at 9:30 a.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate until 12:00 p.m. (if the Senate is in session).  Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

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Senator Coons marks Flag Day

Each year, on June 14, we mark the anniversary of the day in 1777 when the United States adopted the American flag. In honor of this year’s Flag Day, Senator Coons made the following statement.

“As we recognize the stars and stripes of the United States of America, we pause to honor those who have paved our path toward ‘liberty and justice for all. Whenever I recite the Pledge of Allegiance, I am filled with a sense of pride as I reflect on the American flag.  The flag represents our history and it is a symbol that unites Americans of all walks of life.”

Senator Coons urges quick passage of job-creating transportation bill

Today, Senator Coons joined more than half dozen of his Senate colleagues in calling for immediate passage of a transportation bill that could save or create nearly three million jobs.

Legislation supporting critical investments in America’s roads and bridges is set to expire at the end of this month. The Senate has already passed a long-term extension of the bill, which Chris strongly supported because it makes the kind of sensible, predictable investments that companies need to hire new workers. . The  Senate version was crafted and passed with strong bipartisan support, but a more partisan version passed the House. At today’s event, Senator Coons and his colleagues made clear that jobs depend on the Senate version being signed into law. 

“In times like these, our economy depends on efficient transit,” Chris said. “In order to hire, companies need certainty, reliability, predictability. The Senate-passed bill provides that certainty that allows companies to hire new crews.”

Senator Coons was joined at Wednesday’s event by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, as well as Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

To learn more about Chris’ work on transportation, click here.

Senator Coons passes resolution to honor International Chemistry Olympiad

On Tuesday, Senator Coons passed a resolution through the U.S. Senate honoring the student participants in the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad. In the resolution, the Senate welcomed the International Chemistry Olympiad to the United States, acknowledged the importance of encouraging students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and honored the University of Maryland, College Park, as well as the American Chemical Society for making this event possible.

Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) co-sponsored the resolution, which passed the Senate unanimously.

About 300 students from over 70 countries will gather in Washington, D.C. next month to participate in the International Chemistry Olympiad. The competition brings students together and tests their abilities in the theory and practice of chemistry, with specific opportunities in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and spectroscopy. By interacting with their peers from countries around the world, participants will have the chance to foster important relationships and be a part of a scientific community.

Chris is committed to encouraging students to pursue STEM fields through innovative events like this one. He previously co-hosted the first-ever Kent County Science Fair in Dover and checked out student projects at the 20th annual Sussex County Science Fair. Chris was himself an undergraduate chemistry major, and is passionate about science and math education. He believes events like the International Chemistry Olympiad can fuel students’ critical thinking skills and open doors to their future.

In oversight hearing, Attorney General Holder talks VAWA and synthetic drugs

Today, Attorney General Eric Holder testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice attended by Senator Coons.  The hearing gave Holder an opportunity to answer questions on a broad range of issues, including two of Chris’ top priorities – reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and legislation banning the sale of harmful synthetic drugs, including “bath salts.”

Holder responded to questions about the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, including a provision in the Senate bill that would allow prosecution of domestic violence in tribal territories. Chris spoke on the Senate floor earlier this year, urging swift passage of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization.

The Attorney General commented on the importance of the provision and stated his hope that the bipartisan Senate version of VAWA would pass.  “I think that the bill that the Senate has passed, as a whole, is the best way in which VAWA can be reauthorized,” Holder said.  “I think that that particular provision is an important one, given the rates of violence that we see that women, girls are subjected to in terms of domestic violence on tribal lands, the ability to have those cases tried in tribal courts I think will go a long way to serving as a deterrent and preventing reoffending and changing the culture of what we have seen on tribal lands.”

Holder also said that legislation banning the sale of synthetic drugs, which Chris strongly supports, addressed a real concern and urged Congress to take swift action.  “What we have seen in the last few weeks with regard to people who potentially own bath salts—those are issues we need to deal with as quickly as we can, so I applaud the effort that has been made, and I would hope that there can be some kind of coming together and passing that legislation as quickly as possible,” he said.

To learn more about Chris’ work on the Senate Judiciary Committee, click here. 

ICYMI: News Journal praises Senator Coons’ “daring” energy-finance bill

The News Journal featured an editorial on Sunday endorsing Senator Coons’ new legislative proposal to level the playing field by giving investors in renewable-energy projects access to a decades-old tax advantage now available only to investors in fossil fuel-based energy projects.

We have witnessed a lot of talk about energy, “green jobs,” climate change and renewable sources. We have heard calls for America to be energy independent, to be innovate and to be steady in lowering the volatile energy sources. The most sensible proposal has been to go for “all of the above” when it comes to types of energy.

…

Last week, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware introduced a bill that would create a new partnership structure for would-be investors in renewable energy. The structure would offer tax advantages that would spur investors to support companies that will meet the tests of the energy market.

The idea holds promise.

The bill is called the Master Limited Partnership Parity Act — “parity” being the key. It would give renewable energy companies the same opportunities now available to other energy industries.

Click here to read the full editorial on the News Journal’s website.

Click here to learn more about the bill.