ICYMI: Sen. Coons in the Washington Post: 2020 election threats extend to the Senate – and jeopardize our democracy

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for the Election Assistance Commission, published an op-ed in the Washington Post calling for immediate action to protect our 2020 election. Sen. Coons has been leading efforts in the Senate to include election funding in the next relief package to expand vote-by-mail and early voting, so eligible voters can safely vote during a pandemic.

The Washington Post: 2020 election threats extend to the Senate – and jeopardize our democracy

By Chris Coons

It is a common, bipartisan practice for members of Congress to advocate in countries around the world for one of the United States’ most important values: free and fair elections. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I have written dozens of letters with colleagues of both parties to warn foreign leaders, heads of election commissions and ambassadors that their upcoming votes displayed concerning, telltale signs of a faulty election: election interference, voter suppression, lack of adequate preparation and more.

I am deeply concerned, however, that the alarm bells indicating risk to the soundness of an approaching election are ringing right here in our country.

The United States is cruising toward a repeat of the election process of 2000, when it took more than a month to determine whether George W. Bush or Al Gore would ultimately become president. This year, however, things could be worse.

It is not only the results of the 2020 presidential election that could be uncertain for weeks or even months; control of the Senate could be contested for just as long. If that uncertainty lasts until January or beyond, that could be destabilizing for our democracy.

The full column is available here.

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Senator Coons on the passing of Maj. Gen. Carol Timmons

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the passing of Air Force Maj. Gen. Carol A. Timmons (Retired).

“With a career spanning 42-plus years of service, Carol Timmons rode many first waves along her journey from second lieutenant to major general with the Delaware National Guard,” Senator Coons said. “Carol’s quiet confidence and determination propelled her to the position of a well-respected leader of leaders. She was deeply sincere and positive, and she had a unique gift for making those around her feel valued and appreciated. A decorated aviator devoted to her country, her family, and her fellow airmen, Carol trailblazed her way over the clouds and onto countless airfields in far-reaching corners of the world. During her remarkable career, she carried with her the principles of fairness, kindness, and equality. Annie and I are heartbroken by Carol’s passing, and we pray for Lynn and the rest of their family and friends. May Carol be remembered always as a genuinely humble, good-natured, and decent person.”

Timmons was a veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Joint Guard, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. In 2008, she earned a Bronze Star Medal for her service commanding a combat deployment in Afghanistan. She also earned both Army and Air Force pilot wings, flying both helicopters and cargo aircraft.

In February 2017, Maj. Gen. Timmons, serving as adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, joined Sen. Coons as his guest at the State of the Union Address. Carol Timmons, who also flew passenger aircraft for both Pan Am and United Airlines, died August 2. She was 62 years old.

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Carper, Coons join 34 Senate colleagues push for bipartisan support of school meal programs amid COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and 32 of their colleagues in urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue critical flexibilities that have allowed students to access much-needed meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If extended throughout the 2020-2021 school year, children would maintain access regardless of school opening status, and struggling school nutrition programs would benefit from additional financial relief.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools around the country to close their buildings and shift instruction to online and distance-learning models,” the senators wrote. “For many children, school breakfast and lunch may be the only healthy and regular meals they receive.”

The senators continued, “The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in millions of parents losing their jobs, and millions more students will be dependent on school-provided meals. School meal program directors must begin procuring food, equipment, and supplies and placing orders now in preparation for the upcoming school year.”

In the First State, one in five children struggle with hunger and over 45 percent of households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have children. For the 2019-2020 school year, Delaware had approximately 86,000 children eligible for free and reduced-priced lunch, or about 58 percent of children in participating schools.

To help ensure school meal program directors and staff have the certainty that they need to begin preparing for the upcoming school year, the senators are urging the USDA to extend a variety of waivers that will help ensure low-income students can access school-provided meals throughout the upcoming school year.

Additionally, the senators are calling on the USDA to reimburse schools for the transportation costs for delivering meals to low-income students: “While many school meal programs are managing these costs for the time-being, they cannot continue absorbing them for the foreseeable future. We ask that the USDA make additional funds available to schools to assist with the cost of delivering meals to low-income students until regular school operations are restored.” 

In addition to Senators Carper, Coons, Hassan and Collins the letter was also signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif,), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

To read the senators’ letter see below or click here.   

Dear Secretary Perdue:

We write in support of the School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) request that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extend a number of school meal program waivers for the entire 2020-2021 school year. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools around the country to close their buildings and shift instruction to online and distance-learning models. For many children, school breakfast and lunch may be the only healthy and regular meals they receive. We want to thank USDA for its flexibility granting waivers of school meal program requirements this past school year and this summer. The 2020-2021 school year will likely be marked by similar closures, with many children having to learn from home. The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in millions of parents losing their jobs, and millions more students will be dependent on school-provided meals. School meal program directors must begin procuring food, equipment, and supplies and placing orders now in preparation for the upcoming school year.

We were pleased that USDA extended a number of waivers for school meal program regulatory requirements until the end of the 2020-2021 school year, including the meal pattern requirement, the parent/guardian pickup requirement, the congregate feeding requirement, and the mealtime requirement. However, to help ensure school meal program directors and staff have the certainty they need to begin preparing for the upcoming school year, we urge you to also extend the following waivers nationwide until the end of the 2020-2021 school year: 

• Unexpected School Closures Waiver
• Afterschool Activity Waiver
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Parent Pick-Up Waiver
• Waiver of Child Nutrition Monitoring
• Waiver of Food Management Company Contract Duration Requirements
• Waiver of Local School Wellness Assessments
• Area Eligibility Waiver
• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Waivers

Additionally, it has come to our attention that under the current regulations, the transportation costs for delivering meals to low-income students are not reimbursed by the USDA. While many school meal programs are managing these costs for the time-being, they cannot continue absorbing them for the foreseeable future. We ask that the USDA make additional funds available to schools to assist with the cost of delivering meals to low-income students until regular school operations are restored.  

During such an unprecedented crisis, we must ensure that schoolchildren have enough to eat. We thank USDA for all its work so far that helped keep children fed, and we ask that you continue doing everything you can to do the same for the upcoming school year.

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Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester celebrate groundbreaking for $41.2M aircraft hangar

DOVER, Del. – Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper, Chris Coons, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) celebrated the groundbreaking of a $41.2M maintenance hangar for C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17A Globemaster III aircraft at Dover Air Force Base.

“For too long now, our world-class Dover Air Force base has not had a hangar large enough to fully enclose its aircraft so maintenance can be performed any day of the year, regardless of weather,” said Senator Carper, a 23-year veteran of the Navy. “For decades, I, along with our congressional delegation, been working tirelessly to ensure Dover Air Force Base has modern facilities to perform its missions. I also worked to modernize the Air Force’s fleet of C-5s, and over the past nine years, C-5M flight crews operating out of Dover Air Force Base have helped make the C-5M the world’s top aviation record holder. Needless to say, I’m so proud of the servicemen and women that serve at Dover, and I’m thankful that we can help them get the space, tools and resources they so vitally need and rightfully deserve as their carry out their mission, and continue to break world records!”

“Dover Air Force Base is one of the finest military bases in the country, and I’ve been working to get funds for a C-5M maintenance hangar for several years,” said Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Air Force Caucus. “I’m glad that its construction will soon be underway. The men and women who serve and work at Dover Air Force Base deserve all the support and resources they need, and I’m proud to fight for those resources on the Senate Appropriations Committee.”

“The service members courageously serving at the Dover Air Force Base deserve the highest quality facilities,” said Representative Blunt Rochester. “When I visited the base in February, the service members I spoke to noted that they lacked a hangar large enough to perform maintenance on its aircraft, regardless of weather conditions. The construction of this hangar will enable them to fulfill their duties more efficiently and will ensure the readiness of our nation’s C-5M and C-17 fleet. I am so grateful for the service of everyone at the Dover Air Force Base and incredibly grateful that they will now have the resources they deserve.”

The hangar construction project, awarded to Archer Western Federal JV and managed by the U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District, is one of the top military construction priorities of Dover AFB and Delaware’s congressional delegation. Once completed, the new hangar will significantly improve aircraft maintenance efficiency rates at the base.

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Bipartisan support builds for Coons-Wicker bill targeting debt-based driver’s license suspensions

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced that four additional Senators are cosponsoring their bipartisan legislation to encourage states to stop debt-based driver’s license suspensions: U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Since the Driving for Opportunity Act was introduced earlier this month, it has continued to garner support from a variety of organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National District Attorneys Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Urban League, and Instacart.

“We are pleased to have the growing support of our Senate colleagues in working to end a practice that has punished poverty and strained police-community relations for too long,”Senator Coons said. “Suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid fines and fees makes it harder for Americans to hold down a job and care for their families, and places an undue burden on our police officers. The widespread, bipartisan support for this bill underscores the need to end this counterproductive policy once and for all.” 

“I am glad that more of my colleagues are recognizing the value of the Driving for Opportunity Act. Suspending drivers’ licenses for unpaid fines and fees is a counterproductive penalty for Americans who need a car to earn a living and take care of their family,” Senator Wicker said. “My home state of Mississippi banned the practice in 2018, and other states should be encouraged to follow our lead.”

“We need to be realistic about the harm a suspended driver’s license for unpaid fines and fees has on an individual and their family, especially in the midst of a national health emergency and an economic crisis. For most Americans, driving a vehicle is essential. This is especially true in many small cities, towns and rural areas that may have limited access to public transportation and ride sharing alternatives. In these places, driving is often the only realistic means of transportation. Taking this ability away is counterproductive as it makes it more difficult for an individual to find or keep a job and therefore pay the debt owed to the government. The Driving for Opportunity Act will help put an end to this unfair practice,”Senator Boozman said.

“The U.S. needs to stop criminalizing poverty, period. If someone in this country doesn’t have the means to pay a fine, revoking their driver’s license and preventing them from driving to work won’t solve anything – it will only make things worse,” said Senator Harris. “I thank Senators Coons and Wicker for being champions of this important bill.”

“Driver’s licenses are particularly important for folks who live in rural parts of the country as families need to access grocery stores, pharmacies, child care and employment. This legislation provides a positive incentive for people to continue to work to pay off debts instead of placing roadblocks to their ability to pay them off. I’m glad to support this bill that targets people who have committed minor offenses unrelated to driving and show no public safety risk,” Senator Grassley said.

“Suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid fees is a misguided relic from the ‘War on Drugs’ era that punishes people who can’t pay their bills on time by making it even harder for them to make an income to pay their bills. How stupid is that?” said Senator Van Hollen. “This pandemic has led to record unemployment and financial challenges for many Americans struggling to survive. Instead of further punishing them or criminalizing poverty, this bipartisan bill makes a commonsense and well overdue change.”

Nationwide, at least 11 million people have their driver’s licenses suspended because they cannot pay fines or fees, not for any public safety reasons. This makes it harder for Americans to go to work to pay off their debts and places an unnecessary burden on police to enforce suspensions, expending resources that should go to public safety, increasing hostilities in the communities they serve, and putting officers and citizens at increased risk of infection during a pandemic.  

For a one-pager on the Driving for Opportunity Act, please click here. For the bill text, please click here.

Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester announce $1.8 million in CARES Act funding to help small businesses across Delaware respond to coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) announced that the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $1.8 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to capitalize and administer Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic across Delaware.       

The EDA investments are:

• True Access Capital Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware, will receive a $1.2 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to support Delaware-based small businesses that have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by capitalizing and administering an RLF to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted businesses in the State of Delaware.

• Wilmington Economic Development Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware, will receive a $616,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by capitalizing and administering an RLF to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted businesses in Wilmington.

“EDA has a history of making smart investments in Delaware, including helping educate future technicians at the Automotive Center for Excellence in Georgetown and helping start-ups and small businesses get up and running at the Delaware Innovation Space in Wilmington,” said Senator Carper. “These investments can serve as a lifeline, especially now that this pandemic has put so much stress on our communities and small businesses in Delaware.”

“True Access Capital and WEDCO are both community lenders that support diverse and first-time business owners in Delaware,” said Senator Coons. “They helped Leroy Tice expand his law practice, Andrea Sikora to cook up La Fia Bistro, and Darrick Hayman to launch DLHcad LLC, an emerging design firm. I’m pleased that $1.8 million will support current borrowers and other small businesses impacted by COVID-19.”

“As so many Delaware small businesses and entrepreneurs still feel the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, these EDA investments will help keep businesses open. The pandemic has caused immense hardship for small businesses and these investments will assist these businesses as they work hard to continue operating,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “I’m pleased that this funding from the CARES Act will be directed to those businesses which are truly the backbone of our economy.”

These current EDA RLF grantees are some of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA RLF, Economic Development District, University Center, and Tribal grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

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Senators Coons, Hassan urge President Trump to drop plan to reduce level of US troops in South Korea

WASHINGTON – Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today wrote a letter to President Trump, urging him to drop plans to reduce the level of U.S. troops based in South Korea, following reports that the administration is considering a potential withdrawal. The senators raised concerns that any large scale troop reduction would harm American security, while strengthening the interests of North Korea, China, and Russia.

“American service members stationed in South Korea play a vital role in keeping our country safe from North Korean aggression, an assertive China, and Russia,” the senators wrote. “A potential reduction in troop levels would hurt our national security interests and signal to our allies that the United States can no longer be counted on to help promote and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” 

Senators Coons and Hassan noted that the United States’ alliance with South Korea has been long-standing and mutually beneficial. South Korea has contributed troops to every war in which American soldiers fought since the Korean conflict and most recently sent 700,000 test kits to the United States to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Last year, Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, visited South Korea, where they met with senior officials to reaffirm the U.S.-South Korea alliance and discuss ways to advance shared interests and values.

To read the senators’ letter see below or click here: 

Dear President Trump:

We write to express our concern regarding recent reports that your administration is considering reducing the level of U.S. troops based in South Korea.  American service members stationed in South Korea play a vital role in keeping our country safe from North Korean aggression, an assertive China, and Russia. A potential reduction in troop levels would hurt our national security interests and signal to our allies that the United States can no longer be counted on to help promote and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Withdrawing large portions of our forces from the region will undermine the safety of the United States by weakening our first line of deterrence and defense against both China and North Korea. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper acknowledged the need to prepare for a possible confrontation with China a mere four days after withdrawal plans were submitted to the White House.  Recognizing the importance of our presence in South Korea, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 required a certification to Congress prior to reducing U.S. troop levels below 22,000. Faced with evolving challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea, we should not undercut our longstanding commitment to supporting South Korea and our allies in the Indo-Pacific region, but rather strengthen and deepen those partnerships.

The Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and South Korea, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, and the alliance helps the United States promote its interests in East Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. This June marked the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War and the beginning of an unshakeable alliance between the United States and South Korea that is based on mutual strategic interests and shared democratic values. Since U.S. and South Korean troops fought and died to ensure freedom on the Korean peninsula, the United States has enjoyed the longstanding support of South Korea. South Korea has contributed troops to every war in which American soldiers fought since the Korean conflict and most recently sent 700,000 tests kits to the United States to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  A withdrawal of U.S. troops would harm this longstanding, mutually beneficial alliance, weakening the United States posture in the region while strengthening our adversaries and competitors.

Additionally, we would like to stress the importance of communicating with our allies, especially South Korea and Japan, before making any decisions about appropriate troop levels in the region. The Senate recently recognized the importance of engaging with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region to compete with and counter China through passage of the Indo-Pacific Cooperation Act, and it is critical that the perspectives of our allies are considered when making any major decisions affecting regional stability.

American troops based on the Korean peninsula form the bedrock of our alliance with South Korea. U.S. Forces Korea benefit from combined forces training exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, and South Korea and the United States enjoy a high level of interoperability. Our alliance strengthens American security, whereas a drawdown of U.S. forces would be welcomed by China, Russia, and North Korea.  We urge you to reject any plans to reduce U.S. troop levels in South Korea.

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Sens. Coons and Blunt lead bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus discussion on community policing

Sen. Coons brings Delaware voices to Senate Law Enforcement Caucus event to find ways to improve police-community relations

Delaware and national law enforcement, community groups, and civil rights organizations join Senate Law Enforcement Caucus for dialogue on community policing

WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, hosted a virtual panel and discussion on community policing. The caucus event facilitated an open conversation to identify policies and strategies that would improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. 

The virtual event was attended by a range of law enforcement officers, community leaders, and civil rights organizations from across the country – including members of several organizations and community leaders in Delaware. The audience participated in a question-and-answer segment to exchange ideas and facilitate mutual understanding. 

Speakers at the event included several law enforcement officials and community leaders. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Karen Amendola, who serves as chief behavioral scientist for the National Police Foundation. The panelists included Reverend Dr. Donald Morton, executive director of the ReManned Project, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware; Chief Gregory Mullen, associate vice president and police chief at Clemson University and former chief of police for Charleston, South Carolina; Chief Danny Whiteley, chief of police for Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and Bishop Mark Tolbert, board member of Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.

“Bringing together voices from every part of our communities is essential to charting a productive path forward on policing reform. Right now, people are risking their lives to protest systemic inequalities amid ongoing economic and public health crises, and these protests have sparked long overdue conversations and put justified pressure on all of us to act. We must find a path forward, together,” said Senator Coons.“Building and maintaining trust between law enforcement and their communities is at the cornerstone of safety and crime reduction. Today’s discussion helped build mutual understanding and promote dialogue, and I’m glad to hear from Delaware voices as part of this national conversation. I’m committed to pursuing policing reform, and I hope these productive and open conversations will continue.”

“Community policing must move beyond programmatic idea to cultural revolution where there is value ascribed to humanness to those with and those without the badge,” said Dr. Morton, executive director of the ReManned Project, Inc.

“Community policing is more critical today than ever before.  It creates shared understanding and builds trust and respect that is vital to every community’s success.  It provides hope for police agencies and communities to come together around common goals and build strong relationships during this time of polarization,” said Chief Mullen, associate vice president for public safety and chief of police at Clemson University.

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: We should honor John Lewis by investing in and protecting our elections

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined MSNBC to discuss negotiations for the upcoming COVID-19 stimulus package. In addition to relief for unemployed workers, food assistance, and other key priorities, Senator Coons highlighted the urgent need for safe and secure elections amid this pandemic.

“[John Lewis] risked his life over and over for the right to vote. That we’re not taking up and voting on funding to make sure that elections are safe and secure, it’s not just irresponsible and unsafe, it’s disrespectful to the memory of Congressman Lewis,” said Senator Coons.

Senator Coons, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), has led the call to expand vote-by-mail and early voting to ensure that all eligible voters can safely cast their ballots amid disruptions from the ongoing health crisis. The senators are specifically calling for $3.6 billion to help states expand vote-by-mail and early voting in the next COVID-19 relief package.

Full audio and video available here. 

Q: I’m joined now by Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. Senator, Republicans trying to find an agreement among their own party as this Politico headline notes very simply, ‘it’s a mess,’ and that’s a quote from Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. Based on what you’ve heard, what you’re seeing on the Hill, what exactly is the hold-up in their caucus? 

Sen. Coons: Well, they’ve got a deep division between those Republicans who think they’ve already done too much in terms of helping average Americans, those who think they’ve already done enough, and those who think they should do more. As you just pointed out, there’s a cliff right in front of us for tens of millions of America families. […] 30 million Americans are dependent upon these extra $600 a week that they’re getting through the CARES Act as an addition to their unemployment insurance. That’s coming to an end this week. So the fact that the House of Representatives passed a robust bill two months ago that included assistance for state and local governments, included assistance for voting by mail securely, and include a critically needed extension, both of the eviction moratorium and additional help for housing and the unemployment benefit and two months later the Republicans have just released their opening bid, which has bailouts and benefits for big corporations and insurance companies, but does not help with that unemployment extension, does not help with eviction, is striking to me. Their biggest problem is division in their own caucus between those who think they have nothing more to do and those who think they should do just a little bit more. If you look at who they want to do more for, it’s pretty striking just how far apart we are. 

Q: One of the ideas that’s being tossed around is the $600 extended unemployment benefit. That $600 being cut to $200. What would be the real-world impact of that cut? 

Sen. Coons: Well, just think about it. If you’re currently getting $600 a week and, in many cases, also several hundred dollars along with that from your state unemployment insurance, and that suddenly gets cut in half, or the federal part by two-thirds, for an awful lot of families that makes it hard for them to stay in their homes, they may well be evicted. That makes it hard for them to feed their kids. As many parents are trying to safely transition to schooling, whether schooling at home or sending their kids back home, they’re trying to figure out daycare. This will strain tens of millions of families to very difficult points. We’ll see an increase in homelessness, we’ll see an increase in kids who are not getting the food they need and deserve at home. There’s also not more money for SNAP, for the program that combats hunger for tens of millions of Americans in the Republican bill, there is additional support for SNAP in the House Democratic bill, the HEROES Act that was passed two months ago. Let me also, just last in closing, highlight that today as our nation is preparing to watch John Lewis’ funeral in Atlanta tomorrow, as you just referenced, this morning I saw Congressman Lewis’ funeral procession leave from the front of the Capitol Building. He risked his life over and over for the right to vote. That we’re not taking up and voting on funding to make sure that elections are safe and secure, it’s not just irresponsible and unsafe, it’s disrespectful to the memory of Congressman Lewis.

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Sens. Coons, Rubio & Reps. Stevens, Balderson lead bicameral bill to reinforce U.S. supply chain against future threats

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) joined U.S. Representatives Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) in introducing the Resilient Manufacturing Task Force Act of 2020, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to help build a stronger, more resilient post-COVID economy. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

The legislation establishes a task force to identify critical vulnerabilities in existing U.S. supply chains and develop a plan for a National Manufacturing Guard, a volunteer organization of American experts from across the private sector, which will train for supply chain and other manufacturing emergencies. 

“One of the things COVID-19 has revealed about our economy is that we are vitally reliant on countries like China for critical supplies – whether it’s medical devices like ventilators or pharmaceuticals,” Senator Coons said. “We have a responsibility to address these vulnerabilities now and build an economy that is better prepared to withstand future threats. This bipartisan, bicameral bill is an important step toward ensuring American manufacturing is resilient and can build back stronger after this recession.”

“The industrial capacity of a nation still matters, and Congress must take action to restore resilience to the American economy,” Senator Rubio said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant gaps in American productive capacity, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Resilient Manufacturing Task Force Act to identify vulnerabilities and supply chain risk in U.S. manufacturing and to develop plans to mitigate them. As China continues its pursuit to dominate critical industries and undermine U.S. economic and national security, it is clear that we need a 21st century pro-American industrial policy, and this bipartisan legislation is a significant step towards that effort.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed key vulnerabilities in the U.S. economy,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “I remember calling Mayors and Township Supervisors in my district in the early days of the pandemic who were doing anything and everything in their power to secure personal protective equipment for their communities. Frontline workers, from nurses to grocers, faced similar challenges, while hospitals around the country scrambled to find desperately-needed medical equipment like ventilators. Michigan’s incredible manufacturers stepped up to meet the industrial call to action, and recover our supply chains through their ingenuity and ability to make anything. For the sake of our national security and ability to strengthen Buy American content while avoiding future supply chain disruptions, Congress must pass the Resilient Manufacturing Task Force Act, which I am introducing today. By bringing together the leading experts across government, industry, and academia we have the opportunity to enhance our supply chain, play to the tremendous strengths of our nation, and recover from future disruptions.”

“It’s clearer now more than ever the United States must ensure the integrity and strength of our critical supply chains – without relying on foreign actors like China,” said Congressman Balderson. “This legislation will help identify vulnerabilities within our domestic manufacturing supply chains, ensuring the vitality of U.S. resources and infrastructure in the event of future emergencies.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the need for a comprehensive and coordinated effort to boost our domestic manufacturing capacity so that we can more effectively respond to pandemics and other emergencies,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will help to identify and address deficiencies in U.S. supply chains, which in turn can expand job opportunities and strengthen our emergency response capabilities.”

“The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities within our supply chains for everyday goods, lifesaving drugs, and medical equipment,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would ensure we have the resources and infrastructure in place ahead of a future public health emergency.”

Both the task force and the planned National Manufacturing Guard will leverage the expertise of existing resources like the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers and the Manufacturing USA Institutes—many of which, like the Delaware-based National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), have already sprung into action to address the COVID-19 crisis. While the bill emphasizes vulnerabilities highlighted by COVID-19, the task force will aim to build resilience against a wide range of circumstances, including pandemics, natural disasters, and global trade disruptions.

In a recent letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Coons and his colleagues warned, “If we fail to learn from the current crisis, we remain vulnerable to the next one. Around the world, the countries that best weathered COVID-19 have been those who faced similar threats in the past—SARS, MERS, H1N1—and learned from the experience. [The Resilient Manufacturing Task Force] is an essential first step toward inoculating the nation’s industrial pillars against the dangers of participation in the modern global economy.”

The text of the bill is available here. This legislation has been endorsed by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

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