WASHINGTON – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released its annual National Environmental Scorecard on March 12, announcing that U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) earned a perfect 100% score on his voting record on environmental issues in 2019. The scorecard provides objective, factual information about the most important environmental legislation considered by Congress and the corresponding voting records of all members. Earlier this year, Senator Coons also co-founded the Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.
“I’m extremely proud to have earned a 100% score on the League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard this year,” Senator Coons said. “The LCV is an important advocate for our beautiful natural resources in Delaware and across the country, and it plays a critical role in keeping lawmakers accountable for their actions. I look forward to continue working with the LCV to protect our environment and address the serious threats posed by climate change.”
The National Environmental Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from nearly two dozen respected environmental and conservation organizations who select the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored. The League of Conservation Voters scores votes on the most important issues considered each year, including energy, climate change, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, and spending for environmental programs.
The League of Conservation Voters is a national non-profit organization that works to turn environmental values into national priorities. To secure the environmental future of our planet, the League of Conservation Voters advocates for sound environmental policies, elects pro-environment candidates who will adopt and implement such policies, and provides state leagues with the resources and tools to accomplish and sustain their mission.
U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joins Delaware members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed on March 10 at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. The coalition brings together more than 150 organizations across four states to enhance its capacity to advocate for protecting and restoring the Delaware River Basin. Coons met watershed coalition members (pictured) from the Delaware Nature Society, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, National Parks Conservation Association, and University of Delaware’s Water Resources Center. (Photo by Michael Bennett/Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons.)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Delaware members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed convened March 10 on Capitol Hill to discuss programs supporting the protection and restoration of the Delaware River Basin.
The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, which unites more than 150 organizations across four states to enhance its capacity to advocate for protecting and restoring the Delaware River Basin, asked Coons to continue to support funding for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program (DRBRP), National Wild & Scenic Rivers Program (WSRP), Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and National Estuary Program.
“The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program is my top appropriations request to the Senate Interior Subcommittee each year,” Senator Coons said. “I’m pleased that DRBRP received $9.7 million this fiscal year, which is up from $6 million the year before, and I’ll continue to push for strong funding for this program and others that safeguard Delaware’s economic and environmental wellbeing.”
In addition to supporting the DRBRP, Senator Coons is an original cosponsor of the Great American Outdoors Act, which was introduced Monday. This bipartisan bill combines two that he previously cosponsored, the LWCF Permanent Funding Act and the Restore Our Parks Act.
The Great American Outdoors Act would provide much-needed funding for the maintenance backlog at national parks and wildlife refuges, which would benefit First State National Historical Park, and Prime Hook and Bombay Hook wildlife refuges in Delaware.
As a cofounder of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, Senator Coons is no stranger to fighting for the environment in Congress.
In 2014, the Coons-led White Clay Expansion Act was signed into law, which added nine miles of river segments to White Clay Creek’s WSRP – the only nationally designated river of its kind in Delaware.
Last month, the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays – an organization in the Delaware River Watershed Coalition – sent a letter to Coons, thanking him for supporting funding increases for the National Estuary Program (NEP).
“This funding will translate directly to improved water quality, wildlife habitat, and way of life for both of Delaware’s NEPs,” Executive Director Chris Bason wrote. “Clean water is fundamental to the health of Delawareans and the health of Delaware’s economy.”
“Delaware’s environment is unique, offering a diverse array of species, native plants, and recreation opportunities,” Emily Knearl, director of advocacy for the Delaware Nature Society, said. “We are so grateful for Senator Coons’ support of the environment, clean water funding, and protection of wildlife habitats.
“His championship in favor of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program, cosponsorship of the Environmental Justice Act, and Migratory Bird Protection Act send an important message,” she said. “Delaware’s economy and ecology are fundamentally linked. Protecting the environment is not only sound economics but good policy.”
Whether it’s fighting for wild and scenic rivers, river basin restoration, or national estuaries, Coons continues to lead efforts in the Senate to safeguard strong funding for programs that support clean water in Fiscal Year 2021.
For more about these pieces of legislation, clean water programs, and the senator’s environmental priorities, visit coons.senate.gov/about/priorities.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services announced that a Delawarean has presumptively tested positive for COVID-19.
“I encourage all Delawareans to follow recommended measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as staying home when sick and washing hands frequently. My top priority is protecting the health and safety of Delawareans, and I will continue to work closely with federal, state, and local officials to ensure we have the resources necessary to do that. I am so grateful for the critical work of our local health officials, and I’m committed to doing everything I can at the federal level to combat the spread of this virus.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Coons (D-Del.), member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to update the list of sanctioned individuals for Zimbabwe following their January letter to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting an update.
“We are pleased to see the Departments of Treasury and State act on our request to update the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list (SDN list) for Zimbabwe,” said the senators. “The removal of persons no longer deemed appropriate and the addition of those responsible for recent human rights abuses is just one of the tools we will continue to encourage the U.S. government to use to hold leaders accountable for corruption and the erosion of democratic rights.
“As Zimbabwe’s leaders continue to blame their deepening political and economic crises on the political opposition, peaceful protesters, and foreign governments, they are failing to take responsibility for the suffering of the Zimbabwean people, for which they alone are responsible. We applaud the United States’ decision last week to extend the Zimbabwe sanctions program for another year,” they continued. “While today’s announcement adds two new names to the SDN list – Owen Ncube and Anselem Sanyatwe – for human rights abuses, there remain several others who need to be held accountable for their actions and we urge the administration to update the list as needed.”
Background: In 2003, the United States began to impose sanctions on select individuals in the ZANU-PF regime and entities known to facilitate human rights abuses, undermine the rule of law, and engage in the looting of state resources for personal or political gain. While the targeted sanctions have been in place, the U.S. has continued to invest in humanitarian and development aid for Zimbabwe, spending more than $2 billion over the last ten years. The government of Zimbabwe has used misinformation to blame U.S. sanctions for the country’s political, economic and humanitarian situation.
In its first changes to the SDN list for Zimbabwe in the post-Mugabe era, the U.S. Treasury Department on March 11, 2020, removed four individuals, and added Anselem Sanyatwe and Owen Ncube.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after attending an all-Senators classified briefing on election security from Trump Administration officials. Senator Coons led the successful effort to include $425 million in funding for election security grants to help states protect their election systems in the Fiscal Year 2020 federal funding bill.
“With the November election approaching, we must focus on our responsibility to strengthen our infrastructure and protect our upcoming election. I was encouraged to hear a commitment from the leaders of our federal law enforcement, homeland security, and intelligence agencies to securing our elections, but I remain deeply concerned that partisan politics will prevent us from taking action as a few Republicans continue to block bipartisan election security bills on the Senate floor.
“Ensuring our elections are free, fair, and secure is in everyone’s best interest. The House has already passed two election security bills – the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act and the Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act – that would limit the influence of foreign actors in our elections. We should take up these bills on the Senate floor promptly.”
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) joined Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, and Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Division of Public Health, for a call regarding the State of Delaware’s response to the spread of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the novel coronavirus).
“Although Delaware does not currently have any confirmed cases of COVID-19, we are coordinating with state and local officials to ensure we are prepared for community transmission of the virus. We want to increase Delaware’s capacity to screen for the virus and ensure that Delaware’s families are supported if businesses or schools need to close,” said Delaware’s delegation in a joint statement. “We were proud to have passed bipartisan legislation last week to provide Delaware with a minimum of $4.5 million in additional funding to prepare for potential outbreaks from a total package of more than $8 billion to support our nationwide efforts to protect Americans and find a vaccine. Those funds are just a first step, though: We will continue to work together to ensure every community has the resources they need to protect public health. We are committed to doing everything we can at the federal level to support the critical work that the state has been doing and the work of health care providers and first responders on the front lines in the First State.”
Senators Carper and Coons and Representative Blunt Rochester encourage all Delawareans to visit www.CDC.gov or www.de.gov/coronavirus to learn more about the virus and how they can protect themselves and their families. Following simple everyday measures to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as staying home when sick and washing hands with soap and water, can help to keep communities healthy.
Delawareans at heightened risk for serious illness from COVID-19 include elderly people and individuals living with chronic medical conditions. If you are at higher risk of getting sick from COVID-19, visit CDC’s page here for additional guidance. If you have questions, please contact Delaware’s COVID-19 information line at 1-866-408-1899 or TTY 1-800-232-5460.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement ahead of an all-Senators classified briefing on election security from Trump Administration officials this afternoon. Senator Coons led the successful effort to include $425 million in funding for election security grants to help states protect their election systems in the Fiscal Year 2020 federal funding bills.
“We know that foreign adversaries are actively planning to attack our elections in 2020, so we need to take action now to ensure that our next election is determined solely by the voices and the votes of the American people. Last year, I led the successful bipartisan effort to secure $425 million in the federal funding bill to replace voting machines across the country, but too many voting systems continue to rely on outdated technology.
“Today, when the Trump Administration briefs all 100 Senators on election security, I want to hear the facts about current threats to our elections, assurances from the Trump Administration that they’re confronting election security with the seriousness it deserves, and a commitment from my Republican colleagues to move forward House-passed legislation to protect our elections. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue – everyone, regardless of political party, deserves a fair election this November and to have their votes counted.”
WASHINGTON –Today, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, member of the House Energy and Commerce Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee, U.S. Senators Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and Chris Coons (All D-Del.) sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett, requesting a site visit to Dover Air Force Base to address the per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discovered in certain private and commercial groundwater sources near the northwestern and eastern boundaries of the base. The letter is a follow-up to a communication the delegation sent last July to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, requesting a site visit.
“The two recent and additional discoveries of contaminated commercial wells near the airbase underscore the importance of a senior Air Force official visiting Dover AFB and publicly briefing the local community, Delaware state government, and the congressional delegation on the plans for PFAS mitigation surrounding the airbase,” the delegation wrote. “Such a briefing should include plans to provide permanent municipal water sources to the surrounding community, current or planned remediation efforts, and other efforts undertaken and proposed by the Department of Defense that may affect the Dover, Delaware community.”
We write to follow-up on our July 31, 2019 letter requesting a site visit of the Dover Air Force Base (Dover AFB) by you or a knowledgeable delegate from the Department of the Air Force. The visit would provide us all with an opportunity to discuss contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances on and surrounding Dover AFB.
The two recent and additional discoveries of contaminated commercial wells near the airbase underscore the importance of a senior Air Force official visiting Dover AFB and publicly briefing the local community, Delaware state government, and the congressional delegation on the plans for PFAS mitigation surrounding the airbase. Such a briefing should include plans to provide permanent municipal water sources to the surrounding community, current or planned remediation efforts, and other efforts undertaken and proposed by the Department of Defense that may affect the Dover, Delaware community.
We wish to thank the Dover AFB and your Department for their efforts to address the contamination presently affecting the local community, including the improved transparency they have provided local and federal stakeholders. While much work remains to be done, providing a senior official to explain the immediate and long-term plans for remediation, to answer questions, and to address any concerns will further improve the relationship between the airbase and the local community.
We will continue to advocate for strong federal laws to address PFAS contamination stemming from the military and other sources, as well as the tools the military and the community need to address PFAS contamination.
We ask that you please respond to this letter no later than March 27, 2020, and we thank you for your attention to this matter.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), co-chairs of the Senate ALS Caucus, led a bipartisan group of 15 U.S. Senators and 26 U.S. Representatives to urge the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve the clinical trial process for those with terminal illnesses such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Currently, the FDA has only approved two treatments for ALS that slow down the progress of the disease, but there is still no cure. The letter calls for the FDA to take steps to ensure individuals suffering from terminal illnesses, such as ALS, have access to safe and promising treatments in the clinical trial pipeline.The letter requests recommendations from the FDA on ways Congress can help improve the process of getting life-saving drugs to those who need it most.
“There are many ways for Congress and the FDA to continue to work together to ensure people with ALS, and other rare or terminal diseases, have access to safe, promising therapies, while maintaining the foundational and necessary safety and efficacy standards for approval at the FDA,” the letter said in part. “To assist Congress in this continued effort, we respectfully request that you provide, in your reply, specific recommendations for congressional action that will help the FDA facilitate faster access to safe, promising therapies for those Americans struggling with this deadly disease.”
In addition to Senator Coons, the letter was signed by Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). In the House of Representatives, the letter was signed by ALS Caucus co-chairs Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), and 22 other U.S. Representatives.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to Congress, more than 50 former military, diplomatic, and national security officials called for the passage of the NO BAN Act, the bill introduced by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to repeal the President’s Muslim ban and prevent any baseless, discriminatory bans from happening in the future.
“The Muslim ban is simply discrimination,” the former military, diplomatic, and national security officials wrote. “The NO BAN act would realign U.S. policy with American ideals and send a message of enlightened leadership to the world. Congress should pass it.”
The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act repeals all versions of President Trump’s Muslim ban, strengthens the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, and restores the separation of powers by limiting overly broad executive authority to issue future travel bans. The legislation is supported by more than 260 members of both houses of Congress; more than 400 civil rights, faith, national security, and community organizations; more than 50 immigration law professors; 19 state attorneys general; and several private companies.
