Video: In PSA, Chris encourages businesses to hire veterans

Chris unveiled a new public service announcement today, Veterans Day, on behalf of Delaware Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, which helps local businesses connect with and hire reservists and members of the National Guard.

“Members of the National Guard and Reserve bring a strong work ethic, leadership and specialized skills to the civilian workplace,” said Christine Kubik, Executive Director of Delaware Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. “Delaware ESGR stands ready to link service members with employers and career opportunities.  Hiring veterans is a smart way employers can show thanks.  Any Delaware employer interested in tapping into the talented pool of men and women in the Guard and Reserve should call our offices at (302) 326-7582 or email christine.kubik@us.army.mil.”

The PSA is available at 30 seconds and 15 seconds, in video and audio, and can be downloaded here.

Video: Senate takes historic step toward DOMA repeal

The Senate took an historic step toward equality Thursday, with the Judiciary Committee voting 10-8 for a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Chris is an original cosponsor of the measure and proudly voted for it today.  

After the vote, Chris joined several of his colleagues at a press conference to explain why he feels repeal is important for our country.

In an op-ed on Huffington Post earlier in the day, Chris said, “progress is a great victory here, and equality advocates have a lot to be proud of today.”

“For those Americans who do not yet support equality, we must show them that the love same-sex parents have for their children is no less devoted than the love opposite-sex parents have for their kids. We must show them that families headed by same-sex couples do not have a negative impact on other families. In fact, they face the same challenges as every parent: arranging carpools, parent-teacher conferences, and getting their kids to eat their vegetables.”

Delaware now one step closer to a national park

Senator Coons led his colleagues on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in passing a bill that would finally create a national park in Delaware. Chris congratulated Delaware’s Senior Senator, Tom Carper, on the victory.

“For more than a decade, Senator Carper has worked tirelessly to finally bring a national park to our state, and today he has my sincere congratulations. A national park will preserve and celebrate our state’s vibrant history, while boosting Delaware’s economy and creating jobs. Senator Carper and I will now work to get this bill a vote of the full Senate, and bring the First State National Historical Park one step closer to reality.”

Senator Coons introduces bill to avert potential bankruptcy judgeship crisis

Attempting to head off a potential crisis in America’s bankruptcy court system, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend 30 temporary bankruptcy judgeships in 14 states and Puerto Rico to ensure that those key positions do not become vacant.

“For many, economic recovery depends on bankruptcy courts that have the capacity to fairly and expeditiously resolve personal and corporate bankruptcies,” Chris, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said. “Talented bankruptcy judges can help turn a likely economic loss into a successful reorganization that protects jobs and creditors. If these judgeships are allowed to expire, our courts will become overwhelmed at the expense of jobs, creditors, and our nation’s economy.”

Faced with increasing demand on the federal court system, Congress has created dozens of temporary bankruptcy judgeships over the last 20 years to help the courts keep pace. The Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2011 heeds the recommendations made earlier this year by the non-partisan Judicial Conference of the United States, whose biennial review urged Congress to prevent the expiration of the 30 temporary bankruptcy judgeships covered by this bill by extending each by five years. The statutory authorization to fill these judgeships, should they be vacated, has already lapsed.

Click here to learn more about the legislation. 

Click here to view the full text of the bill.

Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test to occur on Nov. 9th

Senator Coons would like to make all Delawareans aware of the upcoming national Emergency Alert System test (EAS) that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communication Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will be conducted on Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

For the first time in our nation’s history, the federal government will conduct a nationwide EAS test to all EAS Participants concurrently. EAS Participants include all broadcasters, satellite and digital radio and television, cable television and wireline video providers who ensure the system is at a constant state of readiness.

The test will be approximately 30 seconds in duration and a single, live-code alert is sent simultaneously to Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations across the country. PEP stations are designated to relay national alerts to the public and other stations in their coverage area.

In order to reduce public panic, and prevent the emergency phone systems from being flooded with calls, we ask that you pass this information along to members of your community.

Click here to learn more about the nationwide EAS test.

ICYMI: Roll Call spotlights Senator Coons’ push for bipartisanship in the Senate

On Monday, Roll Call highlighted Chris’ efforts in the Senate to reach across the aisle and work with his colleagues in both parties to develop practical solutions to the issues facing our country. After nearly a year in office, the article features Chris’ views on the Senate as an institution and his experience building relationships with the other senators.

Coons is now better known and has been actively making friends on both sides of the aisle even though he was sworn in just a year ago on Nov. 15, 2010, the first day of the 2010 lame-duck session. He is serving out the remaining four years of Vice President Joseph Biden’s term.

Coons said his biggest frustration has been the slow pace of the Senate, which has been hampered by partisan gridlock. But the former county executive has sought out the counsel of other executives-turned-Senators who also had trouble adjusting, including Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), who all were governors or mayors.

“All four of these guys really frankly had a hard time with the transition, with feeling like ‘we used to do stuff every day, now we just talk and talk and talk,’” Coons said. “And I have really struggled with that at times, particularly because of the partisanship and the endless filibusters.”

…

Coons was surprised to have made the friends he has — particularly with Republicans — given the partisanship that permeates most of the chamber’s legislative work. “Individually, the Senators I have been able to invest in getting to know personally are bright, they are patriotic, they are hardworking, they are decent people, and if you can get past some of the team A [versus] team B fighting on the floor, there are opportunities to work together,” Coons said.

Click here to read the full story in Roll Call.

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: November 7 to November 13

Monday, November 7 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak to the Young Presidents’ Organization Philadelphia Chapter Retreat. The retreat is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and other top business leaders under the age of 45 to network and share their ideas. Wilmington, DE – Closed to press.

Monday, November 7 at 4:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Tuesday, November 8 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on natural gas.  The hearing is to consider market developments for U.S. natural gas, including the approval process and potential for liquefied natural gas exports.  366 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Tuesday, November 8 at 10:00 a.m.  – The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Justice. The Honorable Eric J. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice will testify. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Thursday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. A mark-up of the Respect for Marriage Act (S.598) is slated to occur during the business meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Friday, November 11 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the Veterans Day Delaware Memorial Bridge Ceremony hosted by the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs and the Marine Corps League.  Memorial Plaza, Delaware Memorial Bridge, New Castle, DE – Open to press.

Saturday, November 12 at 8:30 a.m. – The Senator will speakat the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K Race hosted by Girls on the Run of Delaware. Girls on the Run is a 501(c)3 positive youth development program which combines an interactive curriculum and running to inspire self-respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-teen girls. Wilmington Riverfront, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.  

Saturday, November 12 at 3:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend the University of Delaware homecoming football game against the University of Richmond. Delaware Stadium, Newark, DE – Open to press.

Sunday, November 13 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will preach at Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church. 500 McKennans Church Road, Wilmington, DE

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

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Blocked

There has been no more frustrating part of my first year in the Senate than watching job-creating bill after job-creating bill get blocked by a gridlocked Congress. We’ve had so many opportunities to make a difference, but partisan gridlock has made it impossible to make real progress against America’s jobs crisis.

Finding jobs for our neighbors and helping our economy recover remains my top priority, which is why this week I cosponsored and worked aggressively for the Rebuild America Jobs Act — the second component of President Obama’s American Jobs Act to be brought before the Senate on its own.

Like its predecessors, this job-creating measure was blocked.

The Rebuild America Jobs Act would have gotten hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job addressing one of our nation’s most serious long-term problems — its crumbling infrastructure. That’s why I went to the floor twice this week to voice my support for this bill. Click here to watch to my first speech

The traffic we see on our crumbling roads is nothing compared to the partisan gridlock that has prevented us from making real progress in fighting our jobs crisis.  Investments in America’s infrastructure are investments in America’s future, making the Rebuild America Jobs Act smart policy that would have made a real difference.

The highlights of my first year of service in the Senate may well be the three job fairs I hosted around the state, which connected nearly 5,000 of our neighbors with more than 100 employers. Washington can learn a lot from Delaware about what it means to get the job done.

I’ll keep trying to pass legislation in Washington to punch back against this recession that has taken so much from so many American families, and I’ll keep doing all I can in Delaware to help our business grow and our connect out-of-work neighbors with employers ready to hire.

Video: Why we need an infrastructure bank

Senator Coons went to the floor again Thursday to trumpet the national infrastructure provisions in the Rebuild America Jobs Act. Chris is also a cosponsor of the BUILD Act, a standalone billed introduced earlier this year that would create the American Infrastructure Finance Authority to bring more private investment into infrastructure efforts.

With America facing a need for more than $2.2 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next five years, an infrastructure bank would help struggling state and local government to find the financing they need to repair their roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, railways, water and sewer systems.

“In my view, we have to get creative,” Senator Coons said. “We have to bring in more resources than are currently on the field. And especially now, especially in this country, I think we have to be smart about how we spend our funds. The Rebuild America Jobs Act, to which I hope we will be moving later this afternoon, would put $50 billion directly into infrastructure but $10 billion as a down payment into making possible this new infrastructure bank. Seed money that makes possible loans and loan guarantees, not grants, for a wide range of infrastructure projects including energy, water and critically needed transportation.”

Watch the speech above, or click here to read the transcript.

Senator Coons, economists discuss ideas for job creation

Senator Coons participated in a forum with economists from the public and private sectors on Wednesday to look at innovative ways to jumpstart the economy and create jobs. The meeting, which was hosted by the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, mainly focused on broad economic strategies for improving our economy, with an emphasis on consumer confidence and demand.

“My number one priority since joining the Senate has been creating jobs for Delaware and helping Delaware business grow,” Chris said. “In August, I hosted three roundtable discussions with Delaware business leaders to listen to their ideas for job creation. It’s imperative that we continue to seek counsel from a wide range of stakeholders, so we can keep the lines of communication open and the ideas on how to create jobs flowing.”

The panel examined job-creating initiatives currently being reviewed by the Senate, including the latest measure put forth by Senate Democrats, the Rebuild America Jobs Act. This legislation would create jobs through investments in our nation’s decaying transportation infrastructure. Senator Coons is a cosponsor and spoke on it on the floor on Wednesday.

In August, Senator Coons hosted several jobs roundtables discussions in Delaware on: jobs for Delaware’s veterans, jobs in Delaware’s high-tech and R&D sector, and jobs in Delaware’s community-based businesses

In addition to the roundtable discussion, Chris hosted three in-state job fairs this year with more than 4,900 job seekers in attendance.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ blueprint for job creation.

Click here to share your thoughts with Chris on how to bring jobs to Delaware.