ICYMI: Startup Act 2.0 endorsed by News Journal

The News Journal: In a Sunday editorial, the News Journal wrote about the importance of the Startup Act 2.0. Introduced last week by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), this legislation will  help  jumpstart the economy through the creation and growth of new businesses and jobs.

It is based upon research showing that for close to three decades, companies less than five years old have created almost all of the net new jobs in America, averaging about three million new jobs each year.

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware was joined by fellow Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia and Republicans Jerry Moran of Kansas and Marco Rubio of Florida in proposing “Startup Act 2.0.” The “2.0” means it’s an updated version of an earlier Moran-Warner proposal.

Startup 2.0 would do several important and smart things. First, it would create “STEM visas” for foreign students to come here to earn graduate degrees in science and math. It also would create “entrepreneur visas” for legal immigrants who start businesses.

Click here to learn more about the bill.

ICYMI: News Journal editorializes in support of Senator Coons’ bill on bankruptcy judges

The News Journal: On Saturday, the News Journal editorialized on the importance of the Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeship Extension Act, which was introduced by Senator Chris Coons in November and signed into law by President Obama on Friday. The law reauthorizes 29 temporary bankruptcy judgeships, including five in Delaware, ensuring that the judgeships are not lost due to the retirement, resignation, death or removal of the judge.

There’s no way for this country to get beyond the economic malaise of the last three to four years without sufficient bankruptcy judges on the bench.

On Friday President Obama affirmed this reality with his signature on the Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeship Extension Act.

“This law will stave off a grave shortage of bankruptcy judges in many districts around this country, which could have impaired the abilities of courts in those districts to do just that,” said Sen. Chris Coons, who introduced the legislation back in November.

Click here to learn more about the bill.  

Click here to read the full text of the bill Senator Coons introduced in November.

ICYMI: Sens. Coons, Rubio, Warner, and Moran’s op-ed on Startup Act 2.0

Politico: Senator Chris Coons joined his colleagues Senators Marco Rubio, Mark Warner, and Jerry Moran in penning an op-ed on Tuesday that corresponds with the rollout of their bipartisan legislation to help jumpstart the economy through the creation and growth of new businesses and jobs.  The Startup Act 2.0 is based upon research showing that for close to three decades, companies less than five years old have created almost all of the net new jobs in America, averaging about three million new jobs each year.

Inside the Beltway, conventional wisdom says that Congress does little during an election year. But Americans are eager to see Congress address our country’s challenges — most important, the economy and job creation.

We are introducing bipartisan legislation, Startup Act 2.0 on Tuesday — to help jump-start the economy through the creation and growth of new businesses. We want to prove the critics wrong: Congress can get something done in an election year when we work together to strengthen the economy and create jobs.

Companies less than five years old have created nearly all net new U.S. jobs for almost three decades, according to Kauffman Foundation research, averaging roughly 3 million each year. Passing the JOBS Act in March was good news for the young companies now creating jobs. But entrepreneurs face additional challenges beyond access to capital. Startup Act 2.0 picks up where the JOBS Act left off — by helping entrepreneurs to succeed.

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

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to create jobs.

Delaware ranks in the top ten of bicycle-friendly states

For the first time since the League of American Bicyclists started its annual national ranking of bicycle-friendly states in 2008, Delaware is ranked in the top ten. Delaware has continued to become more bicycle-friendly over the years with a significant leap from last year when Delaware was ranked 18th, and in 2008 when the state was ranked 31st.

Delaware’s number 10 ranking was based on a number of key indicators, including infrastructure and funding that provide on-the-ground bicycle facilities; education and programs that promote cycling; and passage of bicycle-friendly laws, such as the 3-foot passing law championed by the Delaware Bicycle Council, which increases safety for bicyclists of all ages.

Delaware’s jump to the 10th slot is due to support from officials at the local, state, and national level who are leading the way by creating a multi-modal transportation system. Senator Coons has worked hard with other members of the Delaware Congressional Delegation and Governor Markell to utilize federal funding originally secured by former Congressman Castle, as well as state resources for the construction of a recreational trail on the banks of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to promote transportation development.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to help develop the C&D Canal.

What We’re Reading: Millennials more likely to start businesses

USA Today reported Sunday that young Americas are more inclined to launch their own start-up businesses, despite the current tough economic climate. Several factors play into Millennials’ tendency to be more open to entrepreneurship in the early stages of their careers. 

“Generation Y is the most entrepreneurial generation ever,” said Jeff Cornwall, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Belmont University in Nashville. “Parents raised their children to be independent,” Cornwall said.

When Cornwall wanted to start an entrepreneurial program at Belmont in the 1980s, “There were only about a dozen universities with this type of program — now, there are over 2,000,” he said. Belmont University touts a success rate of having 36.8% of entrepreneur majors and minors operating their own businesses post-graduation.

According to a 2012 report by the Kauffman Foundation, the largest entrepreneurial foundation in the U.S., 29.4% of entrepreneurs were 20 to 34 years old, and roughly 160,000 start-ups a month were led by Millennials in 2011.

Senator Chris Coons has been an advocate for helping startup businesses expand and create jobs. In November, Chris introduced the AGREE Act with Republican Senator Marco Rubio, which stems from areas of common agreement between the President’s jobs plan, recommendations from the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, and plans put forward by both parties in Congress. On Tuesday, the AGREE Act expanded with the introduction of the Startup Act 2.0, which takes elements from both the AGREE Act and Senators Warner and Moran’s Startup Act.

Click here to read the full article on USA Today’s website.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work on create jobs in Delaware.  

Video: Rollout of the Startup Act 2.0

U.S. Senators Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Mark R. Warner, and Jerry Moran introduced bipartisan legislation, Startup Act 2.0, on May 22, 2012 to help jumpstart the economy through the creation and growth of new businesses and jobs. Many of the principles included in Startup Act 2.0 are endorsed by the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, which was represented at today’s announcement by Steve Case, a co-founder of AOL.

Infographic: Startup Act 2.0 by the numbers

Senator Coons is teaming up with Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jerry Moran (R-Ka.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) to introduce the Startup Act 2.0 — a bill that builds upon the bipartisan AGREE Act and the bipartisan Startup Act to help entrepreneurs create jobs in the U.S. Check out this infographic below for  why Congress should pass the Startup Act 2.0. Click on the image to see it bigger.

Senator Coons calls for reauthorization of FDA

Senator Coons went to the floor on Monday to discuss the importance of the reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fees and other critical programs.

“Most of us don’t think about the FDA on a regular basis,” Senator Coons said. “In fact, we rarely think about where our medicines come from, the scientists who invented them, the investments required to develop them and the innovative, cutting-edge new treatments that are essential to keeping Americans healthy and safe or the regulators who make sure these pharmaceuticals, devices and treatments work as they’re supposed to. But when the moment comes we face a health crisis and our doctors prescribe us essential medications we want those pharmaceuticals available right away and we want them to work as promised.”

Delegation hosts workshop on federal grant process

DOVER — More than 200 people came to a workshop hosted by Congressman Carney and Senators Carper and Coons on Monday at Delaware State University designed to help Delawareans better understand the process for finding and securing grants.

This was the second time the delegation hosted the free event, which included two sessions that focused on skills and best practices in grant writing, the grant evaluation process, and securing funding.

“This grant fair and workshop succeeded at forging connections between grant seekers and grant writers,” Senator Coons said.  “Researching, writing and applying for grants can be a daunting process, and I’m hopeful that this event made the system easier and more accessible for small business owners, entrepreneurs and non-profits.  I look forward to hearing success stories where connections were made, applications were filed, and ultimately grants were awarded.”

Click here to learn more.

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: May 21 to May 27

Monday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m. — The Senator will join Senator Carper and Congressman Carney in hosting a workshop on applying for federal grants. The workshop will feature instruction on writing and obtaining grants, as well as funding sources, resources, planning and outcomes. Delaware State University, MLK Student Center, 1200 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE. Open to press.

Monday, May 21 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, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Law of the Sea Treaty. Witnesses who will testify include The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State; The Honorable Leon E. Panetta, Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense; and General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. –Open to press. 

Wednesday, May 23 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event to unveil a new report on intellectual property jobs. The report, published by the Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center, will detail the impact of intellectual property on jobs on a state-by-state basis. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will also speak at the event. SVC-215, Capitol Visitors Center, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, May 23 at 4:00 p.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Manufacturing Caucus roundtable. Hosted by the Caucus’ co-chairs, Senators Debbie Stabenow and Lindsey Graham, the roundtable will focus on the challenges and opportunities faced by bioscience businesses and what can be done to create a better environment for entrepreneurship and growth. 328A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.

Thursday, May 24 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Thursday, May 24 at 3:00 p.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Friday, May 25 — The Senator will lead a CODEL to East Africa. Senator Coons is chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs. For security reasons, details of the trip are not being published at this time.

Note: Schedule is subject to change