C&D Canal Recreation Trail

On September 1, 2011, U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Tom Carper and U.S. Rep. John Carney joined Governor Jack Markell, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Collin O’Mara, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Shailen Bhatt and other federal, state and local leaders to announce plans and funding for construction of the first phase of an approximately 14-mile-long shared-use recreational trail along the north side of the C&D Canal, and that ground will be broken on the project next spring.

The first phase of the C&D Canal Recreation Trail, from Delaware City to just beyond Summit Marina, will create approximately nine miles of safe new recreational opportunities where people can hike, bicycle, jog, skate, bird-watch and ride horses. Other activities currently taking place at the canal include fishing, hunting and dog training.

8/25/11 Touring Amtrak’s train car maintenance shops in Bear

In August 2011, Senator Coons visited Amtrak’s maintenance shops in Bear, Delaware, which is a heavy maintenance facility with a primary responsibility for overhauling damaged train cars or train cars that needed to be repaired or maintained. The facility can handle about 15 train cars a month. Bear is one of three key maintenance facilities Amtrak has—Wilmington, Delaware and Beech Grove, Indiana are the two other facilities that serve Amtrak on this side of the Mississippi.

Visit to Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton

Senator Coons visited the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton on August 8

Welcoming home members of the National Guard

Senator Coons attended the Delaware Air National Guard Homecoming Ceremony for members of the National Guard

Kent County open for business

On August 4, 2011, Senator Coons visited a monthly meeting of “Kent County is Open for Business.” The team of experts offers assistance with business and marketing plans and guides entrepreneurs through government permitting processes.

Visit to Camdel Metals in Camden

Senator Coons visited Camdel Metals manufacturing facility in Camden on August 4

Dover Sun Park Tour

On August 4, 2011, Senator Coons, along with the City of Dover’s Economic Development Manager Bill Neaton and Project Manager of Sun Power John Kelly, visited the Dover Sun Park, a 10 megawatt solar plant sitting on 103 acres.

The Delaware State Fair!

On July 29, 2011, Senator Chris Coons attended the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Press Conference

In July of 2011, Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) led a bipartisan team of Senators and Representatives in a press conference announcing the introduction of bills in both chambers of Congress that would strengthen America’s fight against pulmonary fibrosis, which claims the lives of 40,000 Americans each year. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act of 2011 is designed to enhance research, prevention, and awareness activities around the disease, creating a national registry, encouraging federal research at the National Institutes of Health, and creating a national action plan. Joining Senator Coons at the press conference was Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and former Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.).

It Gets Better Press Conference

In June 2011, thirteen United States Senators teamed up to encourage lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people not to give up, reassuring them in a video released Wednesday that they are working hard in the Senate to fulfill the promise of equality for all. The video is part of the It Gets Better Project (http://itgetsbetter.org), which was founded last year after a series of tragic suicides by LGBT youth who were bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The inspiring It Gets Better Project is determined to help LGBT youth see a positive future beyond what is often a difficult adolescence.