Sens. Coons, Cornyn introduce landmark legislation to invest $1B annually in civics education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced landmark legislation to invest $1 billion annually in civics and history education from K-12 through higher education. The Educating for Democracy Act would create a variety of grants to states, non-profits, institutions of higher education, and civics education researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education in schools across the country. It would also strengthen policymakers’ understanding of young Americans’ achievement in civics education by increasing the frequency of and encouraging participation in the National Assessment of Education Progress exam. Companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) in the House. 

“Civic engagement is crucial for the health of our democracy,” said Senator Coons. “With expanded civics education in K-12 and higher education, this bill will equip new generations of Americans with a deeper understanding of their responsibilities as citizens and how to exercise their cherished rights. I am proud to work with Senator Cornyn on this bipartisan effort to expand access to civics education and invest in the future of our democracy.”

“The United States continues to be a model for the world because we are taught from a young age the merits of democracy, our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the civic duties that are inherently part of being an American,” said Senator Cornyn. “This bill would help our schools inspire the next generation of public servants and teach all young Texans the value of freedom, and I’m glad to work with Sen. Coons on this bipartisan legislation.”

“Civic education is the cornerstone we need to rebuild the civic strength of our country,” Louise Dubé, the Executive Director of iCivics, which leads CivXNow, said.“We thank Senator Coons and Senator Cornyn for their leadership in introducing this bill, which makes a critical investment in civic education. The CivXNow coalition is excited to support their efforts.” 

“The Educating for Democracy Act takes the necessary steps to bridge the divide in the United States and invest in the future of our democracy,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “If students of all ages are not given the information in their classrooms to actively participate in our democracy, we cannot expect them to stay engaged and informed as adults. Federal investments to expand civic education will help us build a nation adequately informed of our democratic principles, norms, and institutions in order to sustain our democracy. Thank you, Senators Coons and Cornyn for introducing this legislation in the Senate. I am proud to have introduced this bill in the House and to work across the aisle and across chambers to give the next generation the tools they need to carry out their civic responsibilities.”

“In order to preserve America’s unique form of governance, it is important that we prioritize access to civics and history education,” said Congressman Cole. “By equipping students with the fundamental knowledge of our democratic principles, we can encourage active citizen participation in our government the way our Founding Fathers intended for generations to come. As an original sponsor of this legislation in the House, I am proud to see the Senate introduce their own version of this important legislation.”

Research shows that students who receive quality civics education are more likely to vote, discuss politics at home, complete college, and develop skills that lead to employment. These students are also four times more likely to give back to their communities through volunteering and working on community issues and are more confident in their ability to speak publicly and communicate with their elected representatives.

A one-pager on the bill is available here. 

###

Sen. Coons on Dr. Tony Allen’s selection to lead Biden-Harris inaugural committee

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the selection of Dr. Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University, to serve in a personal capacity as chief executive officer of a Presidential Inaugural Committee, which will organize activities surrounding the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

“I have known Tony for 25 years, and he is a terrific choice to help bring Delaware to D.C. and to bring the excitement of the Biden-Harris ticket to the American people through the inauguration,” said Sen. Coons. “This will be a difficult inauguration to pull off as we confront the realities of the pandemic. Fortunately, as Tony’s strong leadership at DSU has already shown, he can both innovate in tough times and deliver real results. He’s a great choice to lead this important committee.”                                                                                                                    

###

Senator Coons on the passing of Delaware National Guard Corporal Erin Sasse

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate National Guard Caucus, released the following statement on the death of Cpl. Erin Sasse of the Delaware Army National Guard. Cpl. Sasse was killed while trying to assist a disabled motorist following a crash on Interstate 95.

“Cpl. Erin Sasse epitomized the best of Army values. She served with the 153rd Military Police Company, a highly respected unit of our Delaware National Guard,” said Sen. Coons. “Erin’s instinct to risk her own safety in slowing down to assist a disabled motorist on a dangerous interstate is a testament to her courage and her character. Her family, friends, and fellow soldiers knew her as a remarkable and incredibly caring person, and her tragic loss will be felt by many for years to come. Annie and I send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Erin’s husband Randy and their three children.”

For more information, visit the Delaware National Guard’s Facebook page at bit.ly/3mj9S78.                                                                                                                                                                      

###

[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: ‘Big difference between the stock market and what’s happening in grocery markets’

WILMINGTON, Del. — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committees, joined MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell to discuss the need for urgent COVID-19 relief and stimulus.

“I think it’s important that Majority Leader McConnell show that he recognizes that we need to fund our recovery, that we need to provide an additional round of funding, yes to small businesses, but also to state and local governments, to families and individuals who are struggling, even on a day that the Dow Jones hits a new all-time record,” said Senator Coons. “There is a big difference between the stock market and what’s happening in grocery markets in local communities all over our country. We’ve got families that are hurting and struggling. We have more than 6 million Americans who are on the verge of being evicted either because they’re late on their mortgages or on their rent, and we need to take decisive steps to put a floor under our economy.”

Senator Coons concluded, “The very wealthiest Americans and those who hold stocks and bonds in their retirement accounts should be pleased about the all-time high for the Dow Jones, but that shows that there is confidence in the markets because they believe a transition is now finally under way, and we should be able to work across the aisle during this lame duck period to deliver some of the additional support that small businesses, employers, and employees and their families need and deserve going into this holiday season.”

Full audio and video are available here. A transcript is provided below.

Q: And Delaware Democratic Senator and Foreign Relations Committee member, Chris Coons, joining me now. Senator, thanks very much, thanks for being with us. And an almost happy holiday to you. It’s certainly a happier day for the Biden team there in Wilmington who can now start working on background checks, and as these nominees come forward, begin to think about getting ready for confirmations. 

Sen. Coons: That’s right. This long overdue transition is now fully, finally, completely under way. And I’m excited by the nominees announced by President-elect Biden and to work with them and to support their nominations and confirmation. We should follow long-established precedent and have the relevant committee hearings before the inauguration so that the most senior members of the Biden-Harris Cabinet are in place on the very first day of the next administration. 

Q: Well that would be a really rapid schedule. Is there any sign that Mitch McConnell is going to let that happen? 

Sen. Coons: Well, I’ve spoken to a number of Republican colleagues, and I am hopeful that they will work with the incoming administration, particularly given the seasoned, senior, qualified folks who have been nominated. President-elect Biden has shown real leadership in moving forward with nominees who are both experienced, well-known to members of the Senate, folks who have been previously confirmed to senior positions, but who also break new ground. We’re going to have Avril Haines, the first woman to lead the intelligence community, and Janet Yellen, the first woman to be Secretary of the Treasury, and Alejandro Mayorkas, the first immigrant and Latino-American to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. And these are folks who’ve got great, significant, relevant experience in the areas to which they’re being nominated and who have shown the ability to be confirmed to senior positions by the Senate in the past. 

Q: When I said that it would be a rapid schedule, obviously a rapid schedule given how late the transition is starting. It would normally not be so. But Mitch McConnell also has not been willing to deal on Covid and has not even endorsed or said that Joe Biden is the President-elect. 

Sen. Coons:  Well, regardless of what the majority leader has said, the reality is that Joe Biden is the President-elect, and Kamala Harris is the Vice President-elect, and with the GSA administrator now recognizing that reality and having delivered a written ascertainment, the transition is going to be well under way. It’s not the President-elect’s fault that the transition has been delayed by several weeks by outgoing President Trump’s temper tantrum about the transition. And frankly I am optimistic that we will promptly begin the appropriate consultations with those senators who are most likely to be the committee chairs and that these very qualified nominees will be able to make progress. We shouldn’t be holding up the transfer of critical national security information, for example, to the President-elect or to his team, or the transfer of critically needed public health information about Operation Warp Speed and planning for the delivery of vaccines to more than 300 million Americans, just because President Trump steadfastly refuses to accept the outcome of the election. 

Q: Do you think McConnell is trying to wait until after the Georgia runoffs on January 5 before acknowledging Biden’s success? 

Sen. Coons:  I certainly hope not. That’s a long time to wait. That’s until January 5th. And I frankly think that would harm our whole nation. I think it’s important that Majority Leader McConnell show that he recognizes that we need to fund our recovery, that we need to provide an additional round of funding, yes to small businesses, but also to state and local governments, to families and individuals who are struggling, even on a day that the Dow Jones hits a new all-time record. There is a big difference between the stock market and what’s happening in grocery markets in local communities all over our country. We’ve got families that are hurting and struggling. We have more than 6 million Americans, Andrea, who are on the verge of being evicted either because they’re late on their mortgages or on their rent, and we need to take decisive steps to put a floor under our economy. The very wealthiest Americans and those who hold stocks and bonds in their retirement accounts should be pleased about the all-time high for the Dow Jones, but that shows that there is confidence in the markets because they believe a transition is now finally under way, and we should be able to work across the aisle during this lame duck period to deliver some of the additional support that small businesses, employers, and employees and their families need and deserve going into this holiday season. 

Q: Do you think Joe Biden should reach out to Senator McConnell? 

Sen. Coons:  I think they should reach out to each other, as folks who served together for a long time, who know each other, and who have worked well in the past. I do think it’s important for the Majority Leader and the President-elect to have a personal conversation promptly. I was really encouraged by the outcome of the conversation the President-elect had with Speaker Pelosi and with Minority Leader Schumer here in Wilmington last week, and I think they laid the groundwork for a very strong working relationship. I look forward to being a part of those in the Senate who are helping carry forward President-elect Biden’s agenda for his administration. I think he won a strong electoral victory. He in the end I think will have received 80 million American votes — excuse me, that I think we will see in the end that President-elect Biden has accomplished what is a significant win in the electoral college as well as in the states that have certified his election, but we have unfinished work to do, in working across the aisle, in crafting a bipartisan agenda that will deliver relief to the American people. And a key part of that is for President-elect Biden to reconnect with someone who has been a colleague in the past and who could be a partner in the future if he chooses the responsible path of cooperating with the incoming administration and that of course is Majority Leader McConnell. 

Q: Senator Chris Coons, thank you very much. 

###

Coons honored with Friend of Farm Bureau Award for support of Delaware agriculture

CAMDEN, Del. – Today, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the Senate Chicken Caucus and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, received the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award during a ceremony at the Delaware Farm Bureau here.

President Richard Wilkins of the DEFB presented Coons with the national-level award, which honors members of Congress who work to advance policies supporting agriculture and farmers.

“Delaware agriculture plays a critical role in our state’s economy and helps to keep food on the tables of American families across the country,” Senator Coons said. “Finding ways to support our hardworking farmers is one of my top priorities. I’m honored to receive this award and will continue using my position in the Senate to advocate for agriculture and Delaware farmers, especially during this difficult time.” 

As Senate Chicken Caucus co-chair, Coons has led the bipartisan effort to secure federal assistance for contract poultry growers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Coons also uses his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for vital agriculture, rural development, and environmental priorities, including support for the poultry industry, agricultural research, farm conservation, and rural housing programs in the appropriations bills for the fiscal year 2021.

For more photos of the ceremony, visit https://bit.ly/3nRkv14.(U.S. Senate Photo by Brendan Mackie/Released).

Senator Coons speaks with Ethiopian Prime Minister amidst escalating conflict

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees, spoke today with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as the Ethiopian National Defense Forces prepare for a military offensive against Mekelle, the capital city of the northern Tigray province.

Senator Coons expressed concern about the rapidly escalating conflict with the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front and urged Prime Minister Abiy to pursue dialogue and reconciliation. Senator Coons emphasized the need to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access, and he raised alarm about disturbing reports of human rights violations on both sides. They discussed the African Union mediation effort announced by AU Chairman and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Senator Coons and Prime Minister Abiy discussed the risk of protracted ethnic conflict and the consequences for Ethiopia’s democratic transition and the stability of East Africa and the Red Sea region, as the UN refugee agency reports that nearly 40,000 refugees have fled to Sudan in recent days. Senator Coons underscored the importance of a stable, democratic, and prosperous Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is one of the world’s fastest growing economies and is Africa’s second most populous country. Major U.S. companies including General Electric and Dow have operations in the East African country. Ethiopia is an important security partner in a volatile region. It hosts the African Union headquarters and is the world’s largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, with forces deployed to UN missions in Sudan and South Sudan, and in Somalia as part of a multinational effort to counter Al Qaeda affiliate Al Shabaab.  

###

Sen. Coons’ statement on President-elect Biden selections for key Cabinet positions

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President-elect Biden announced nominees for key Cabinet positions: Tony Blinken for Secretary of State, Jake Sullivan for National Security Advisor, Linda Thomas-Greenfield for Ambassador to the United Nations, Avril Haines for Director of National Intelligence, Alejandro Mayorkas for Homeland Security Secretary, and John Kerry for Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. 

“President-elect Joe Biden is bringing professional competence and deep experience to his Cabinet and the highest levels of our government. Beyond their decades of work in national security and foreign relations, these nominees are genuinely good people and team players who will work tirelessly to advance U.S. interests and values. I look forward to confirming these nominees quickly, and working with President-elect Biden and his Cabinet to build back better our leadership on the world stage and tackle our most pressing global challenges.”

### 

Sen. Coons’ statement on President-elect Biden’s nomination of Tony Blinken as Secretary of State

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President-elect Joe Biden announced Tony Blinken as his nominee to serve as Secretary of State.

“Tony Blinken will be an outstanding Secretary of State. I have known and worked with Tony for over a decade and no one better understands and conveys President-elect Biden’s vision for building back better our nation’s role in the world than Tony. World leaders will know that when Tony speaks, he is speaking for the President. He is a capable, measured, thoughtful and inspiring leader, and our diplomats around the world will be encouraged to have his leadership at the State Department. We have a lot of important and difficult work to do together in the years ahead — advancing our values, restoring our alliances and tackling the challenges of this century from China and climate change, to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and future global health crises — and I look forward to working closely with Secretary Blinken and President Biden to deliver strong results.”

###

Sens. Coons, Scott, colleagues introduce resolution designating November as National College Application Month

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.)introduced a resolution in the Senate designating November as National College Application Month. The resolution was also introduced in the House by Representatives Susan Wild (D-Pa.) and Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) to remind students that they can’t let the pandemic prevent them from identifying their college options or cause further disruptions and barriers to their educational journey. COVID-19 continues to complicate high school seniors’ and others’ assessment of their educational plans with fewer students applying to college and completing the FAFSA when compared to a year ago.

The bipartisan resolutions note that “the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate for young adults with a bachelor’s degree and the unemployment rate for young adults whose highest credential is a high school diploma differ by 20 percentage points, which has widened exponentially as a result of the coronavirus.” 

“Even amidst all the challenges of this year, it’s important that all of us continue to dream big about the future. If you are a high school senior or someone thinking about returning to school, now is the time to apply and to learn more about your options,” said Senator Coons. “I’m excited to work with my colleagues to recognize everyone undertaking that project this month and look forward to celebrating your plans come spring.”

“Education is the key that unlocks endless opportunities,” said Senator Tim Scott.“Although this year has been different than most, it’s important that the future of our young people not be hindered by the challenges of this pandemic. I encourage all students – regardless of age – to pursue your dreams and continue your educational journey.”

“We have an obligation to keep a high-quality education within reach for each and every student – and that starts with ensuring students and families have access to the important information on the college admissions process, know about the opportunities our excellent community colleges and two-year colleges in PA-07 provide, the value of an advanced degree, and costs so they can make decisions that are right for them,” said Representative Wild. “This academic year comes with so many unprecedented challenges for our high school seniors and those looking to pursue higher education, so it could not be more important to support the work being done – virtually or otherwise – to help guide our students through the college process.”

“I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution that will help shed light on the higher education application process. As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I continue to encourage all youth to explore ways that they can further their education. I was proud to work with Senator Coons, Senator Scott, and Congresswoman Wild to designate November as National College Application Month,” said Representative Guthrie. 

In the Senate, the resolution is also cosponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). The American College Application Campaign (ACAC), an initiative of ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning, National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and Reach Higher have spoken in support of the resolution.

ACAC Director Lisa Sommer King said, “November is a perfect time for students, parents, and educators to focus on moving ahead with college applications. While we’ve had many disruptions in our lives, the congressional resolutions and the support from our allies in this work shows that we’re coming together to remind students —especially Black, Native American, Latinx, and first-generation students — that planning for the future must go on, even during the current challenges.” 

“Applying to college should be a fundamentally student-centered process,” noted Angel B. Pérez, CEO, NACAC. “Congressional recognition of the significance of the college application process helps raise awareness of the promise of higher education, the disparities in equitable access to college, and the supports needed to ensure that students can make successful transitions.”

Stephanie Owens, director of programming, Reach Higher at the Common App, said, “Education is the single most important investment one can make for their future and it gives you the opportunity to meet people with different backgrounds and open your mind to critical thinking.”

The three organizations stress the need for school districts and community members to talk to students about the importance of education beyond high school, to organize activities – whether in person or virtual – to support students through the college-going process, to celebrate the important milestones for the Class of 2021 like applying to college or filling out the FAFSA, and to provide a sense of normalcy amid uncertainty.

Read the “November as National College Application Month” resolution here.

### 

ICYMI: Coons pays tribute to Delawareans at Capitol

WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) paid tribute to five Delawareans during a floor speech at the U.S. Capitol.

The floor speech, printed in the Congressional Record, honors the late Elaine Manlove, Wayne Manlove, Mike Rush Jr., Lottie Lee-Davis, and Gloria Corrozi.

To read the full statement, visit bit.ly/3kLp0sf. To watch the speech, go to youtu.be/JzQpA528qMw.