Senator Coons voices support for confirmation of Paul Oetken

Senator Coons entered a statement into the record Monday in support of J. Paul Oetken, who was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday night. Oetken will be the first openly gay judge on the federal bench.

Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I speak today on behalf of J. Paul Oetken’s nomination to be U.S. district judge for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Oetken and I knew each other while we were law students at Yale, and I have followed his career with great interest since then. Mr. Oetken is, in my view, a strikingly intelligent man. His varied career — in private practice, with Jenner & Block and Debevoise & Plimpton; in the public sector with a number of admirable clerkships, culminating with a Supreme Court clerkship for Justice Blackmun; with the Office of Legal Counsel and the White House Counsel’s Office; and, now, in the business world, where he is Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Cablevision — demonstrates a searching intellect and great capability.

Mr. Oetken possesses a unique combination of perspectives and an exceptional series of qualifications. Given Mr. Oetken’s obvious talent and broad experience, I am confident he will make a great federal judge. In my view it is an added and important bonus that, as the first openly gay man confirmed to the federal bench, his service will also move us closer to full equality in our nation. His confirmation will inspire future judges, lawyers and litigants with the knowledge that, for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Americans, it does get better in our nation’s long journey to inclusion and justice.

Visit our booth at the Delaware State Fair!

Are you as excited as we are about the Delaware State Fair?  From Opening Day on July 24 through Closing Day on July 30, members of Senator Coons’ staff will be at our very own booth on the first floor of the Wilmington Trust Grandstand.  They’ll be on hand to meet with fair-goers and offer information about the services our office provides to constituents. 

The Delaware State Fair is an annual tradition dating to 1920, when adults paid fifty cents each in admission (children could attend for twenty-five cents) for exhibits in seven categories.  Today, the fair attracts over 300,000 visitors from across the region, and attendance has become a tradition for many Delaware families.  The fair features a carnival with over fifty rides as well as concerts by major entertainers,  with this year’s performers to include Miranda Cosgrove, Toby Keith, Ke$ha, and many others.  Of course, the Delaware State Fair remains committed to its roots as an agricultural festival, and there will be plenty of livestock shows and farming contests to experience and enjoy.

At Chris’ booth, our staff will be ready to assist Delawareans with federal government casework, including help with questions relating to:

• Social Security
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Immigration and Naturalization
• Passports
• Service Academy Nominations
• Taxes
• Veterans’ Affairs
• Military Service
• Small Business Administration
• All other federal departments and agencies

 If you need help navigating the federal bureaucracy, if you wish to learn more about services you may be eligible to receive from federal agencies, or if you just want to stop by and say hello, visit our booth anytime between 11:00am to 9:00pm on any day of the fair.  We look forward to seeing you in Harrington. 

For more information about the Delaware State Fair and directions, click here.  To learn more about the kinds of assistance Chris’ office can provide, visit:  http://www.coons.senate.gov/services/.

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

Monday, July 18 at 3:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate gallery.

Tuesday, July 19 at 9:20 a.m. — The Senator will speak at the Third Way event: “The $2.5 Trillion Race to Clean Energy: What the U.S. can do to compete with China and the rest of the world.” Senator Coons will deliver opening remarks at the forum discussing China’s strength in the clean energy sector and how the United States can compete. 210-212 Senate Visitors Center, Washington, DC – Open to the press.

Tuesday, July 19 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on drug and veteran treatment courts. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to the press.

Wednesday, July 20 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will chair the second panel at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: “S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families.”  Testifying on the second panel will be majority witnesses Joe Somonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign, and Evan Wolfson, Founder and Executive Director of Freedom to Marry. A minority witness has not yet been confirmed. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Thursday, July 21 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate gallery.

Thursday, July 21 at 2:10 p.m. – The Senator will deliver opening remarks at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute’s Cool Roofs briefing. The briefing will discuss the potential benefits for solar-reflective roofs and other “cool-roofing” techniques to lower the surface temperature of buildings and entire cities. 212-210 Senate Visitor Center, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Friday, July 22 at 9:30 a.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate (if in session). Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate gallery.

Friday, July 22 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will host a conference call with Delaware business leaders. The topic of the call is the deficit. Closed to the press.

Friday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. – The Senator will be the keynote speaker at the Truman Scholarship Dinner. The Truman Scholarship funds students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields. Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC

Video: Senator Coons talks about his growing concern over the default crisis

Senator Coons spoke on the floor today about the devastating impact a default crisis would have on America’s economy, calling on his colleagues to work together on a bipartisan budget compromise in order to avoid a default crisis.

Chris is a member of the Budget Committee.

You can read a transcript of his remarks by clicking here.

Sen. Coons introduces bipartisan pulmonary fibrosis bill

Senators Coons held a press conference in the Capitol today announcing the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act of 2011. Chris was joined at the press conference by Senator Kirk (R-Ill.), former Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.), and members of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Chris underscored the need for members of Congress to put partisan politics aside and work together to improve American’s health and well being.

“One of the things that’s always made Delaware special is the way that folks like Congressman Castle and I are able to work together in a bipartisan way to tackle hard issues,” Chris said. “Certainly, the 200,000 Americans currently affected by pulmonary fibrosis don’t care whether the folks who are working on the issue are Democrats or Republicans, members of the House or Senate, governors or physicians. They’re really less interested in partisanship and role in life than they are in having this dreadful disease tackled.”

Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal disease for which the cause is unknown and cure undiscovered. It is estimated that 48,000 Americans are diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis each year.

As many as 40,000 Americans die from pulmonary fibrosis each year, which is about the same number as die from breast cancer.

The bill is designed to enhance research, prevention and awareness activities around the disease, creating a national registry, expanding federal research at the National Institute of Health, and creating a national action plan. 

To learn more about the event, click here.

To learn more about the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, click here.

To learn more about the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, click here.

Senator Coons visits Verizon Delaware

WILMINGTON — Senator Coons met last week with a group of employees at Verizon in Wilmington to learn more about the company’s investments in Delaware. 

In addition to discussing the state of the economy and the work he was doing in Washington to try to get more Delawareans back to work, Chris was also given a tour of the Verizon network hub by Bill Allan, the President of Verizon Delaware.   

The Senator was impressed by the variety of services and the work that more than 900 Verizon employees perform right here in the First State, including work to ensure that Verizon network in Delaware uniformly serves residents in every town with the same speed and security as is present in the City of Wilmington.

“Verizon’s operations in Delaware are impressive,” Chris said.  “The men and women who work throughout the state have built a network that has enhanced the way Delawareans receive and share information. I enjoyed getting to know some of those people better and hearing about their plans for serving Delaware in the future.” 

Chris expressed a keen interest in exploring Verizon’s fleet of vehicles, many of which are electric or use advanced biofuels. Alternative energy sources are something that Senator Coons has spent a lot of time working on in the Senate, and he was interested to learn that Verizon has the third largest corporate fleet in the United States — it has more than 400 cars, trucks, and vans in Delaware alone!  Chris welcomed the news that Verizon purchases and experiments with a large number of hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles. 

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: July 11 to July 17

Monday, July 11 at 8:30 a.m. – The Senator will hold a conference call with Delaware business leaders. The topic of the call is the deficit. 1105 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE – Closed to press.

Monday, July 11 at 10:15 a.m. – The Senator will meet with Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt. 1105 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE – Closed to press.

Monday, July 11 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate gallery.

Tuesday, July 12 at 11:30 a.m. – The Senator will meet with Rich Andrews, nominee to be US District Judge for Delaware. United States Capitol, Washington, DC – Closed to press.

Tuesday, July 12 at 2:30 p.m. – The Senator will host a press conference on Pulmonary Fibrosis awareness. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), and Representative Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.), will be joined by former Representative Mike Castle (R-Del.) at a press conference Tuesday to announce the introduction of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act of 2011.  Members of Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis will also be on hand to support this legislation. Senate Swamp, United States Capitol, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Tuesday, July 12 at 5:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at SAFE and Electrification Coalition Reception. SAFE, or Securing America’s Future Energy, and the Electrification Coalition, will be hosting this event to discuss energy security with prominent business and former military leaders in America. 385 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to the press.

Wednesday, July 13 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Steering Committee meeting with Jewish leaders. 207 Senate, Washington, DC – Closed to press.  

Wednesday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. — The Senator will attend the Senate Foreign Relations Committee working coffee with the Dalai Lama. 116 Russell Senate Building, Washington, DC – Closed to press.

Wednesday, July 13 at 2:30 p.m. – The Senator will chair the Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. The nominees at Wednesday’s hearing include Morgan Christen, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Scott W. Skavdahl, to be United States District Judge for the District of Wyoming; Sharon L. Gleason, to be United States District Judge for the District of Alaska; Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California; Richard G. Andrews, to be United States District Judge for the District of Delaware. 226 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Thursday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee business meeting. 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press. 

Thursday, July 14 at 2:30 p.m. — The Senator will attend the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Sudan. 419 Dirksen Senate Office, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Thursday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend the Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting.  The nominees at Thursday’s hearing include Steve Six, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit; Stephen A. Higginson, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; Jane M. Triche-Milazzo, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana; Allison J. Nathan, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Katherine B. Forrest, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; and Susan O. Hickey, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. The legislation that will be reviewed at this hearing are as follows: The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2011, Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act, and Combating Military Counterfeits Act, of which the Senator is a co-sponsor. 226 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

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Celebrating Independence Day in the First State

Senator Coons spent his Fourth of July at home in Delaware participating in both the Smyrna-Clayton Independence Day parade and the Dover parade.

The Smyrna-Clayton parade, claimed to be Delaware’s oldest 4^th of July parade, occurred Monday morning along Main Street in Clayton. Following the parade, festivities were held at Smyrna Municipal Park included music, a lawnmower race, and a carnival.

The Dover parade, organized by the American Legion Walter L. Fox Post 2 of Dover, took a route through downtown Dover.  Dover’s festivities included face painting, rock wall climbing, and minirides on the Legislative Mall. The U.S. Air force conducted a flyover and the 287^th Army Band of the Delaware National Guard held a concert as part of the opening ceremony. The Dover parade concluded with a firework display.

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: July 4 to July 10

Monday, July 4 at 9:30 a.m. – The Senator will take part in the Smyrna-Clayton 4^th of July Parade. Clayton Elementary School, 510 Main Street, Clayton, DE – Open to press.

Monday, July 4 at 3:00 p.m. – The Senator will participate in the Hockessin 4^th of July Parade. Old Walkers Farm, Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE – Open to press.

Monday, July 4 at 6:00 p.m. – The Senator will walk in the Dover 4^th of July Parade. Intersection of Hazel Road and State Street, Dover, DE – Open to press.

Tuesday, July 5 at 8:00 a.m. – The Senator will join in the Red, White and Blueberry Fanfare Breakfast send-off celebration for the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware. The choristers, ages 9 to 17 years, are setting out to perform at the Washington National Cathedral.  Cathedral Church of Saint John, 10 Concord Avenue, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.

Saturday, July 9 at 10:30 a.m. — The Senator will speak at the American Legion’s 93rd Annual Department Convention. Sheraton Dover Hotel, 1570 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE – Open to Press. 

Saturday, July 9 at 12:30 p.m. — The Senator will attend the Nanticoke Riverfest. North Market Street & High Street, Seaford, DE – Open to press.

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Video: Senator Coons warns of inaction on the debt in floor colloquy

Senator Coons joined a colloquy on the Senate floor on Wednesday, talking with Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall (both D-Colo.) about the urgent need to address America’s dangerous and staggering debt. Chris urged his colleagues to join him in making the tough choices needed to take responsibility for our debt and chart a responsible, bipartisan path forward.

Chris is a member of the Budget Committee.

You can read a transcript of his remarks by clicking here.