U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Tom Carper (both D-Del.) speak in a colloquy on the Senate floor in celebration of Delaware Day. Since 1933, governors of Delaware have proclaimed December 7 as “Delaware Day” in honor of that day in 1787, when Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, making Delaware the first state in the new nation.
Senator Coons, a strong advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, praised new directives from President Obama to federal agencies meant to ensure U.S. diplomatic and foreign-assistance efforts promote and protect the human rights of LGBT individuals.
“LGBT rights are human rights, whether a person lives in the United States or abroad,” Chris said in a statement to the press on Tuesday. “America’s foreign policy can and should be led by its values, and protecting the basic human rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity is certainly one of them. President Obama has taken a strong stand today, making sure our policy matches our rhetoric. The targeting of individuals for criminal action based on sexual orientation and gender identity is unacceptable. The strategy the President laid out today confronts discrimination and human rights abuses against LGBT persons at multiple levels, strengthening the United States’ posture and making clear to nations that look to the U.S. for leadership and support that we are not going to stand for the reprehensible anti-LGBT policies emerging especially in developing nations.”
“The United States’ diplomatic and development efforts play an important role in shaping the world. It’s not enough just to say that human rights shouldn’t be denied based on sexual orientation or identity — we must make sure our policies live up to our principles. I strongly support President Obama’s actions today, and look forward to working with the Administration to monitor their implementation.”
As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, Chris has repeatedly called on African leaders to abandon efforts to criminalize homosexuality, including Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill in May, and the Nigerian Senate’s criminalization bill last month.
Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to advance civil rights.
Monday, December 5 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at Christiana Care’s ING Direct Recognition event. The event will honor ING Direct and its President and CEO Arkadi Kuhlmann for their cornerstone philanthropic investment of $1.3 million in support of Christiana Care’s Wilmington Hospital Campus. The transformative gift will fund “smart board” technology and the overall expansion of the historic Wilmington Hospital Campus, creating as many as 600 new jobs. ING’s Spaarpot Building, 802 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.
Monday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.
Wednesday, December 7 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. The hearing is entitled, “Reauthorizing the EB-5 Regional Center Program: Promoting Job Creation and Economic Development in American Communities.” 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.
Wednesday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend and honorary-host the Taste of Delaware celebration of Delaware Day. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state in the nation to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Senator Carper and Congressman Carney will be among the many proud Delawareans who attend this event. 902 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.
Thursday, December 8 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.
Thursday, December 8 at 2:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing on domestic and global water supplies. The purpose of the hearing will be to hear testimony on opportunities and challenges to address domestic and global water supply issues. 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.
Friday, December 9 at 7:45 a.m. – The Senator will speak at the Policy Makers Movers and Shakers Breakfast sponsored by New Castle County (NCC) Chamber of Commerce. The NCC Chamber of Commerce aims to create business development opportunities for our members and advocate for a strong and stable economic climate. The Senator will speak on his experience on Capitol Hill and his recent introduction of the bipartisan AGREE Act to support job creation. Event sponsors include: DuPont, Delmarva Power, Fitzgerald Consulting, Inc., and Wilmington University. Hilton Wilmington/Christiana, 100 Continental Drive, Newark, DE – Open to press.
Friday, December 9 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will speak at a DelDOT press conference announcing improvements to the Route 1/I-95 Interchange. The purpose of the event is to discuss updates on the progress of existing and future operational and safety issues. This work is part of a multi-year, multi-project I-95 Interchange Improvement Program that has included work at the Churchman’s Road/Route 7 Intersection, the Churchman’s Road Bridge overI-95; the I-95 Fifth Lane widening; and the reconstruction of the I-95 Toll Plaza in Newark. I-95/Route 1 Interchange Construction Site, DE – Open to press.
Friday, December 9 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services Electronic Health Records Incentive Program press event. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act established funding to provide incentive payments to Medicaid professionals and hospitals to offset the cost of electronic health record systems that meet “meaningful use” criteria for improving the quality of patient care. On Nov. 7, Delaware providers began registering for the Electronic Health Records Incentive Program with Delaware’s Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, with the first incentive payments expected in early December. Fox Run Shopping Center, 404 Fox Hunt Drive, Bear, DE- Open to press.
Saturday, December 10 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Delaware National Guard’s Annual Children’s Holiday Party. At the event, Delaware National Guard (DNG) members and their children have the opportunity to have lunch and meet Santa Claus. Parents are encouraged to bring a canned food item to add to the DNG “War on Hunger” food drive. 198th Readiness Center 1401 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE- Open to press.
Note: Schedule is subject to change.
###
From the News Journal: The holiday season is a time when many Americans provide a helping hand to those less fortunate and give back to their communities. With nearly 25 percent of Delawareans currently in need of emergency food assistance, donations are needed now more than ever. Wednesday’s News Journal details the Food Bank of Delaware’s effort to expand amid record demand and decreased donations.
The food bank is asking for help — and lots of it.
President and Chief Executive Officer [of the Food Bank of Delaware] Patricia Beebe is urging Delawareans to “take a stand against hunger and help make the holiday season bright for our struggling neighbors in need.”
More than 240,000 Delawareans now get food through the food bank’s network of 475 anti-hunger programs — including meal programs, church pantries and senior centers statewide — and the need continues to grow, spokeswoman Kim Kostes said.
“Demand for food assistance is increasing at an alarming rate, especially in Kent and Sussex counties,” Kostes said.
Click here to read the full story in the News Journal.
Click here to learn more about the Food Bank of Delaware and how you can help.
Click here to learn about Chris’ work to improve our economy.
NEWARK — For years, the Newark Toll Plaza has been a bottleneck for vehicles traveling on I-95, especially during the holidays. Thanks to the completion of the new toll plaza and its high-speed E-ZPass lanes, this Thanksgiving’s traffic moved swiftly, handling 611,332 vehicles — an increase of 41,642 vehicles over 2010. Even more impressive was the rate at which cars passed through the new toll plaza — an average of 400 more per hour as compared to 2010.
The toll plaza has been under construction for about two years and was opened in July, both on budget and a month ahead of schedule. This $32 million project was one of the main American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) infrastructure projects for Delaware, improving the flow of traffic through Delaware. The success of the project is one example of the importance of investing in our nation’s infrastructure to keep up with the demand.
Chris has called for the modernizing and expanding of our national infrastructure since coming to the Senate because it would help boost the economy by providing Americans with highly skilled, high-paying jobs. In November, Chris spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Rebuild America Jobs Act, which was introduced to help address America’s jobs crisis by investing in America’s crumbling infrastructure.
Click here to learn more about Chris’ work on transportation and infrastructure.
Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to create jobs.
Monday, November 28 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.
Tuesday, November 29 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will preside over Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.
Thursday, December 1 at9:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Iran. 415 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.
Thursday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC—Open to press.
Thursday, December 1 at 1:00 p.m. — The Senator will preside over Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.
Thursday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Delaware Farm Bureau Annual Banquet. Felton Fire Hall, Felton DE—Open to press.
Friday, December 2 at 9:30 a.m. – The Senator will preside over Senate if in session. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.
Note: Schedule is subject to change.
###
Before you hit the mall on Friday, remember that Saturday is Small Business Saturday — a day dedicated to supporting America’s small businesses during the busiest shopping weekend of the year. With more than two hundred organizations joining American Express OPEN in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday, consumers across the United States are urged to “shop small” by shopping at their favorite local stores and supporting the small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.
With two out of every three new American jobs created by small businesses, doing your holiday shopping at a local business is also a great way to help our neighbors looking for work.
A strong supporter of Delaware small businesses, Chris has highlighted the significance of investing in America’s twenty-first century workforce since his first day in office, urging Congress to come together and pursue a new manufacturing agenda that will lead to the creation of inventive businesses and hire workers for more skilled, domestically based, and sustainable jobs. Recently, Chris teamed up with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing the AGREE Act, a bipartisan bill focusing on policy proposals that support job creation and benefits small businesses.
Saturday is a perfect time to support our friends and neighbors who throughout the year are growing our local economy and “shop small!”
Click here for more information on Small Business Saturday, including a complete list of Small Business Saturday supporters.
Click here to learn more about Senator Coons’ work to boost our economy and create jobs.
Senator Coons congratulated Delaware State University for their research and development of lasers to be used on NASA’s Curiosity Rover mission to Mars. Scheduled to launch November 25, the rover will contain a ChemCam instrument that was partially developed at DSU and uses lasers and spectroscopy to analyze the contents of rocks on the surface of Mars.
Dr. Noureddine Melikechi — who is the founder of the DSU Optics Research Program where the research took place — worked with NASA in connection with the upcoming launch. Alissa Mezzacappa, a DSU Ph.D candidate in optics and a graduate research assistant, assisted Dr. Melikechi. The two of them are in Cape Canaveral to witness the launch in person.
An ardent supporter of science, technology, engineering and math education, and a lifelong fan of NASA and the space sciences, Chris is extremely proud of DSU’s involvement in the project. Historically, NASA’s missions have cultivated American’s hope and wonderment about our vast universe and has inspired many young people to pursue a career in the sciences.
The involvement of DSU in the Mars mission is the latest accomplishment of the University’s prolific Optics Program. The Optics Program received a $5 million grant to work on a $2.5 billion space project with a large team of scientists from throughout the United States and France.
With a focused vision, Dr. Melikechi methodically worked to maximize every new opportunity and each research success. Founded as a one-person project in 1995, Dr. Melikechi expanded DSU’s Optics Research Program to include 12 professors, 18 graduate students and two post-doctoral researchers. It will soon move into a new, 65,000-square-foot building, supported by $10 million in state funding and millions more in private bonds DSU plans to raise.
Click here to learn more about the “DSU goes to Mars” mission.
Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to improve education.
In the week since I teamed up with Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida to introduce the American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Act — the AGREE Act — I’ve heard from a great number of Delawareans.
We’re doing our best to respond to each submission, but I wanted to take a moment to share some of the feedback we received from Delawareans since I wrote you last week. As expected, it has been both insightful and extremely candid!
Robert from Magnolia wrote:
I think it is very good first step in getting the economy going again. Naturally more has to be done but this bill would demonstrate that bipartisan approach is the correct way forward. I have been critical of some of your past emails on varying subjects, but this time you are right on.
Harry, a veteran from Ocean View, wrote:
You would be doing the USA a great service, let alone the veterans, if you would continue to come up with incentives to get our veterans working. If you think the veterans of WWII did wonders, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet when it comes to today’s veterans – collectively, they are smart, highly motivated, disciplined, dynamic, forward thinking, creative, resourceful, highly patriotic and know well the value of teamwork – and they want the work. I have the highest regard for these highly professional young men and women and am positive they have what it takes to help get this country moving again. It’s not so much that this country owes them a job, it’s more that we need those folks to get into the workforce to set examples and to help getting us back on track.
Michelle from Clayton wrote:
It’s about time somebody stood up for small businesses. Small business is at the heart of what America stands for. Thank you so much for trying to get some tax relief for us! It’s about time someone did. This bill is a win-win for everyone.
Several folks wrote to me asking about how we intend to pay for the AGREE Act. They’re right – it’s an important question. We’ll soon submit the bill for scoring by the Congressional Budget Office and then will work with the appropriate committees to find offsets.
I’ve enjoyed reading your comments, and appreciate the time you and others take to engage with me. Most importantly, I look forward to continuing to work with you on strengthening our economy and getting more of our neighbors back to work.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
WILMINGTON — Senator Coons, Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara and former Congressman Mike Castle celebrated 100 years of fish and wildlife conservation in Delaware on Monday. The milestone was marked at a ceremony at the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington along side staff of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and representatives of various conservation groups.
“For the past 100 years, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has protected a wealth of natural resources in our great state,” said Chris. “Delaware’s natural resources support countless recreational activities that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, which helps support local businesses and our regional economy. I congratulate the Division of Fish and Wildlife for 100 years of building a true conservation success story.”
DNREC highlighted several of its conservation success stories in the First State, including:
The celebration also included the planting of a native Delaware sycamore tree in an area on the refuge that was recently cleared of invasive plant species. A total of 100 special trees were planted on the Peterson Refuge to mark the anniversary.