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Senators Coons, Graham, Murphy, Rubio introduce bipartisan legislation to support peaceful resolution to Libyan conflict

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced legislation to clarify and strengthen U.S. policy in support of a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Libya.

The Libya Stabilization Act would place sanctions on individuals fueling violence in the country, require a report on foreign government involvement, and require a strategy to counter Russian influence. The bill would also marshal U.S. resources, including humanitarian assistance, to support the Libyan people and an eventual unified Libyan government.

“The conflict in Libya is a humanitarian crisis that continues to fuel instability and present opportunities for extremist groups in the region,” said Senator Coons. “The United States should play a constructive role in ending the war and stemming the regional and international repercussions of the violence. My hope is that the bipartisan Libya Stabilization Act will strengthen the Administration’s efforts to bring about a diplomatic solution in Libya and signal to parties on the ground that the United States is committed to supporting peace and stability for the Libyan people.”

“I am pleased to be a part of this bipartisan effort to focus on a peaceful solution to the conflict in Libya,” said Senator Graham. “Our goal is to prevent the Libyan conflict from spreading and allowing the entire region to become breeding ground for terrorists.  I appreciate Senator Coons’ hard work and am glad to join him in this effort to end the conflict and promote stability for the Libyan people.”

“Absent sustained engagement by the United States, the security vacuum in Libya will continue to give space to operate for terrorists and extremists and deepen the country’s humanitarian crisis,” said Senator Murphy. “The Libya Stabilization Act will telegraph to the world that the United States is committed to achieving peace in the country, and that we’re ready to hold Khalifa Haftar or any bad actors who seek to fuel violence accountable.”

“It is in America’s, and our allies’ interest, to have a stable and secure Libya. That is why we should be actively engaged in working to foster a resolution to the ongoing conflict,”Senator Rubio said. “This bill is an important step in holding accountable those actors, both domestic and foreign, who are destabilizing Libya and supporting a diplomatic solution to the conflict as well as the Libyan people.”

For text of the legislation, please click here.

Senate adopts bipartisan Coons, Scott resolution designating November National College Application Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the Senate adopted a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) designating November 2019 as “National College Application Month.”

“As seniors in Delaware and across the country start to think about graduation and the adventures that come next—whether it’s heading to college, kickstarting a career, or participating in a national service program—I want to encourage them to dream big,” said Senator Coons. “For those interested in attending college, now is the time to apply. I encourage all students to talk to teachers and guidance counselors about opportunities for scholarships, grants, or financial aid—and to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. While college can be expensive, there are resources that can help students should that be the path they choose.”

“This National College Application Month, I encourage all students to spend time considering their goals for the future, and I applaud those who are taking steps to apply to institutes of higher education,” said Senator Scott. “Education is a sure path to opportunity, and I wish every student who has dreams of continuing their education the very best of luck during this busy season of life.”

The resolution urges public officials, educators, parents, students, and communities to observe National College Application Month with activities and programs designed to encourage students to consider, research, and apply to college and for financial aid. It also commends those who support students throughout the college application process and who work to eliminate barriers to higher education.

To view the resolution, please click here.

Bipartisan bill by Senators Coons, Moran to level the playing field for clean energy included in House tax package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, bipartisan, bicameral legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Ron Estes (R-Kan.), the Financing Our Energy Future Act, was included in a newly introduced package of clean and renewable tax incentives. Thompson, who is the House Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman, today released the Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now Act, which addresses climate change by using the tax code to extend renewable energy use. The Financing Our Energy Future Act, now a section in the Thompson package, would give clean energy projects access to a tax advantage currently available only to oil, gas, and coal projects.

 “I am grateful to Chairman Thompson for including our bold, market-driven proposal in this effort to spur needed investments in clean and renewable energy,” said Senator Coons. “By providing innovators access to a unique financing tool that traditional energy sources have enjoyed for decades, our bill will unleash investments in a whole range of new energy technologies to curb global emissions and create jobs. The Financing Our Energy Future Act enjoys broad bipartisan support and can pass both chambers this year. It’s time we give these vital clean energy technologies an immediate boost.”

“The United States has the largest and most efficient capital markets in the world, and our sensible, bipartisan legislation makes certain that renewable energy companies have access to those markets,” said Senator Moran. “In order to grow our economy and further our energy independence, sound economic tools, like MLPs, should be expanded to allow additional domestic energy sources to compete on a level playing field. I am pleased that our colleagues in the House of Representatives agree and have worked to include this measure in a broad package of clean and renewable energy incentives.”

A master limited partnership (MLP) is a business structure that is taxed as a partnership, but whose ownership interests are traded like corporate stock on a market. By statute, MLPs are currently only available to investors in energy portfolios for oil, natural gas, coal extraction, and pipeline projects.

These projects get access to larger and more liquid sources of capital than are available for traditionally financed energy projects, making them highly effective at attracting private investment. Investors in clean energy projects, however, have been explicitly prevented from forming MLPs, starving a fast-growing portion of America’s domestic energy sector of the capital it needs to build and grow.

Newly eligible energy resources would include solar, wind, hydropower, marine and hydrokinetic energy, fuel cells, energy storage, combined heat and power, biomass, waste heat to power, renewable fuels, biorefineries, energy efficient buildings, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

In the Senate, the Financing Our Energy Future Act is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mike Crapo (R-Ind.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and John Kennedy (R-La.).

The Financing Our Energy Future Act is endorsed by American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Advanced Biofuels Business Council, the Algae Biomass Organization, the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency, the Alliance to Save Energy, Amazon, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), BPC Action, Carbon180, Carbon Capture Coalition, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), Ceres, Clean Air Task Force, Covanta Energy, Energy Storage Association, Growth Energy, International District Energy Association, Master Limited Partnership Association, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), National Hydropower Association, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), National Wildlife Federation, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and Third Way. Quotes from endorsers can be found here.

 

Coons, Hawley demand Facebook explain their privacy practices concerning user location data

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter calling on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to explain Facebook’s privacy practices concerning user location information. In the letter, the Senators express concern that Facebook has misled its users about the company’s collection of location data and how much control users actually have over their privacy settings.
 
“Location data is among the most sensitive personal information that a user can share with a company.  Today, modern smartphones can reveal location data beyond a mere street address,” the Senators wrote. “We appreciate Facebook’s attempt to proactively inform users about their privacy options.  However, we are concerned that Facebook may not in fact be offering users the level of control that the company suggests these settings provide.” 
 
The Senators continue, “If a user has decided to limit Facebook’s access to his or her location, Facebook should respect these privacy choices.”
 
The letter is copied below and is available here.
 
November 19, 2019
 
Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,
 
We write regarding Facebook’s privacy practices concerning user location information.  Recently, Facebook published a blog post in response to new updates to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating system that are designed to provide users with greater control and information about when their location data is collected by apps on their mobile devices.
 
Location data is among the most sensitive personal information that a user can share with a company.  Today, modern smartphones can reveal location data beyond a mere street address.  The technology is sophisticated enough to identify on which floor of a building the device is located.  New updates to iOS and Android have been designed to give users greater insight and control over how and when they share their location with apps on their phones.   In light of these developments, Facebook published a blog post, titled “Understanding Updates to Your Device’s Location Settings,” in which Facebook describes the different privacy settings that a user can choose to determine when a user shares location information with Facebook.  We appreciate Facebook’s attempt to proactively inform users about their privacy options.  However, we are concerned that Facebook may not in fact be offering users the level of control that the company suggests these settings provide.
 
Specifically, in the blog post, Facebook explains that the location settings on a device running the newest versions of iOS and Android allow a user to decide whether to share the user’s “precise” location information with Facebook either (1) all the time, (2) only while using the app, (3) not at all, or (4) if using iOS, only once.  Facebook asserts that this means “[y]ou’re in control of who sees your location on Facebook.  You can control whether your device shares precise location information with Facebook via Location Services.”  However, in the next sentence, the post goes on to say that “[Facebook] may still understand your location using things like check-ins, events and information about your internet connection.”  We are concerned that this language and practice undermines users’ actual control of their location data and the blog post’s assurances to that effect. 
 
If a user has decided to limit Facebook’s access to his or her location, Facebook should respect these privacy choices.  The language in the blog post, however, indicates that Facebook may continue to collect location data despite user preferences, even if the user is not engaging with the app, and Facebook is simply deducing the user’s location from information about his or her internet connection.  Given that most mobile devices are connected to the internet nearly all the time, whether through a cellular network or a Wi-Fi connection, this practice would allow Facebook to collect user location data almost constantly, irrespective of the user’s privacy preferences.  Users who have selected a restrictive Location Services option could reasonably be under the misimpression that their selection limits all of Facebook’s efforts to extract location information.
 
In light of these concerns, we kindly request that you respond to the following questions:
 
1.            Does Facebook collect any information about a user’s location if the user has turned off or limited Location Services for Facebook?  If so, please explain why Facebook collects such information and the process used to collect that data.
 
2.            Does Facebook collect any information about a user’s location based only on information about a user’s internet connection?
 
3.            How frequently does Facebook collect location data based on information about a user’s internet connection when a user has turned off or limited Location Services?
 
4.            What is the difference between the “precise” location information collected when a user has Location Services enabled and the location information collected by Facebook using other data, such as the user’s internet connection, when a user has turned off or limited Location Services?  How detailed is the location data that Facebook collects when a user has turned off or limited Location Services?
 
5.            Does Facebook target advertisements or otherwise monetize the location information it collects when a user has turned off or limited Location Services?
 
6.            If Facebook does target advertisements based on the location information that it collects when a user has turned off or limited Location Services, is it possible for a user to configure his or her privacy settings such that Facebook never monetizes any location information about that user?
 
7.            Does Facebook share the location information that it collects when a user has turned off or limited Location Services with third parties?
                
We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and respectfully request a response by December 12, 2019.
 
Sincerely,
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Coons, Isakson, Kaine, Portman introduce bill to help unemployed Americans find good jobs, call for swift Senate passage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced legislation to help more unemployed Americans reenter the workforce. The Building on Reemployment Improvements to Deliver Good Employment (BRIDGE) for Workers Act would give states more flexibility in administering existing unemployment benefits to help more Americans find good-paying jobs. 
 
These reemployment benefits—which include job search assistance, employability assessment, job matching, financial literacy services, and assistance with resume writing and interviewing—have proved highly successful. When workers are laid off, early access to these services reduces the duration of their unemployment, strengthening both the economic security of working families and the solvency of state unemployment trust funds.
 
U.S. Representatives Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.), and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) introduced companion legislation in the House, which passed with bipartisan support on April 9, 2019. Senate passage of the bill will send it to the President’s desk.
 
“Today’s job market can be highly disruptive,” said Senator Coons. “A new technology or a shuttered factory can quickly put a hardworking American out of a job. Unemployment Insurance is an earned benefit that provides much-needed support, but during these uncertain times, many can benefit from additional help finding a new well-paying job. Meeting face-to-face with an expert, who can identify good job opportunities and coach people through the hiring process, can make all the difference, and the BRIDGE for Workers Act gives states the flexibility to offer that service to more workers. I call on my Senate colleagues to quickly pass this commonsense, bipartisan bill.”
 
“The BRIDGE for Workers Act is commonsense legislation that would help more job-seeking Americans find valuable employment more quickly and provide states with more flexibility to aid these workers more effectively,” said Senator Isakson. “Through employment services, counseling and access to relevant data, this measure would help improve opportunities for Americans looking to finding a job.”
 
“If we can do more to help hardworking Americans gain employment again, we have to do it. In a changing economy, this bipartisan legislation would give more Americans who are out of work access to career counseling and improve assistance with job searches, resume writing, and interviews. This commonsense bill is good for workers and good for our economy,” said Senator Kaine.
 
“Reemployment services like job counseling and interview coaching are effective tools that will help strengthen our nation’s workforce,” said Senator Portman. “The Congressional Budget Office has concluded that this targeted expansion of these reemployment services will help reduce the deficit because of their proven effectiveness in helping more Americans reenter the job market. I am happy to help lead this legislation alongside this results-minded group of legislators.”
 
“Having a job provides Americans with a well-earned paycheck, the ability to provide for their family, and a sense of dignity,” said Congresswoman Murphy. “I was proud to steer this bipartisan bill successfully through the House, and I thank Senator Coons for leading the companion effort in the Senate to give more unemployed Americans the skills and resources they need to return to the workforce.”
 
“The Unemployment Insurance program plays a critical role in helping workers get back on their feet when they fall on hard times, but it should do more than simply process checks,” said Congresswoman Walorski. “Treating unemployed workers like people, not numbers on a spreadsheet, is the key to helping them find good jobs more quickly. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the Senate for their work to help get this bill to the president’s desk so states can focus on the individual needs of workers and families can thrive.”
 
The U.S. Department of Labor awards annual grants to states and territories so they can provide reemployment services to unemployment claimants and help them find work. Under current law, however, states can only use their federal grants to assist workers who are expected to exhaust their unemployment benefits before they find work. This unnecessary restriction prevents many unemployed workers from getting valuable assistance. The BRIDGE for Workers Act would remove this restriction and allow states to use their grants to provide support to any individual receiving unemployment benefits, as long as the state believes these services would help them return to work more quickly. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that new investments in reemployment services scheduled over the next decade would reduce the budget deficit by $600 million between 2022 and 2027.
The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), the non-partisan national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, D.C., and U.S. territories.
 
The text of the bill can be found here.  A one-pager can be found here. 
 
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FACIAL RECOGNITION TECH: Sens. Coons, Lee bill requires court orders for law enforcement use of facial recognition technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced bipartisan legislation to require federal law enforcement to obtain a court order before using facial recognition technology to conduct targeted ongoing public surveillance. The use of facial recognition technology is a valuable tool for law enforcement to protect and ensure public safety; however, if used improperly, this technology can quickly become invasive and could violate the privacy of individual Americans. The Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act will help to implement important safeguards to protect the American public from inappropriate government surveillance.
 
“Right now, there is a lack of uniformity when it comes to how, when, and where the federal government deploys facial recognition technology,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to introduce legislation with Senator Lee that would set clear rules around federal use of the technology by requiring the government to obtain a probable cause warrant if and when it wants to specifically target and track an American. This bipartisan bill strikes the right balance by making sure law enforcement has the tools necessary to keep us safe while also protecting fundamental Fourth Amendment privacy rights.”
 
“Facial recognition technology can be a powerful tool for law enforcement officials,” said Senator Lee. “But it’s very power also makes it ripe for abuse. That is why American citizens deserve protection from facial recognition abuse. This bill accomplishes that by requiring federal law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before conducting ongoing surveillance of a target.”
 
“We support the bipartisan leadership of Senators Coons and Lee to introduce meaningful reform of law enforcement’s use of facial recognition technology,” said Fred Humphries, corporate vice president of U.S. Government Affairs at Microsoft. “The bill provides clarity for law enforcement to be transparent about its use of facial recognition technology, both for human review when facial recognition is in use and testing for accuracy. The bill also ensures that law enforcement will seek a warrant before it can use this technology for ongoing surveillance, except in certain emergency circumstances.  We’re grateful for the Senators’ leadership and are encouraged to see introduction of a new legal framework. Microsoft is committed to working with all stakeholders as the legislation advances in Congress.”
 
The Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act would:
  • Require federal law enforcement to obtain a warrant based upon a showing of a probable cause of criminal activity in order to utilize facial recognition technology for the purpose of ongoing public surveillance of an individual.
  • Limit the warrant’s allowance of ongoing surveillance to a maximum of 30 days and require the use of the facial recognition technology to be conducted in such a way as to minimize the acquisition, retention, and dissemination of information regarding individuals outside the warrant’s purview.
  • Permit law enforcement to use facial recognition technology for ongoing surveillance without a court order in exigent circumstances.
  • Require the judge issuing or denying the warrant application to report the outcome of the warrant application to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts which must catalogue the data and submit a summarized report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
    •  
    A one-pager on the bill is available here. 
     
    The bill text is available here.
     

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    Coons, Gardner initiative supporting research on opioid addiction clears key Senate hurdle

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, companion legislation to the bipartisan Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment (EFFORT) Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), was approved unanimously by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    The legislation would support research on opioid addiction by directing the National Science Foundation, in consultation with the National Institutes of Health, to fund merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the science of opioid addiction, allowing for further understanding of how to more effectively treat the multiple aspects of opioid addiction. The bill passed the House of Representatives in July and now moves to the full Senate for consideration. 

    “Opioid-related deaths have reached epidemic levels in Delaware and across the country,” said Senator Coons. “We must use every tool at our disposal to address this crisis, which is why I have been proud to combat the importation of fentanyl, work to ensure better reporting of opioid shipments domestically, and support last year’s bipartisan bill to strengthen the federal response. It is also why I am excited to see this bill advance and to support increased investments in critical research that will deepen our understanding of the many facets of opioid addiction.”

    “The opioid epidemic is devastating communities across the nation and has ruined too many lives in Colorado,” said Senator Gardner. “There’s no one solution to ending this crisis, but promoting research to better understand the epidemic and encouraging the development of new tools and treatments for opioid addiction and abuse are meaningful steps. I’m proud to see the Committee approve my bipartisan legislation with Senator Coons, which will support research efforts at the National Science Foundation so we can base policy on evidence and work to stop the cycle of opioid addiction.”

    Previous research by the NSF on opioid addiction has increased understanding of the neuroscience of addiction, substance abuse intervention, the secondary effects on families, and more. The EFFORT Act authorizes grants at $10 million for each of the coming five years, nearly twice the NSF’s current level of support for such research.

    Last year, Senators Coons and Gardner supported the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act that will provide critical tools to help combat the opioid epidemic. Senators Coons and Gardner also introduced the Suspicious Order Identification Act, which guards against prescription drug diversion.

     

    ICYMI: Sen. Coons on gun violence in the News Journal: “We must take action to keep our communities safe”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, published an op-edin the News Journal calling for federal action to prevent gun violence. The op-ed is available online here.
     
    The News Journal: This bipartisan gun bill would help protect Delaware families from gun violence 
    By Chris Coons
    Gun violence in the United States is a deadly epidemic that we cannot ignore.
     
    As an occasional hunter, I know the right to keep and bear firearms, protected by the Second Amendment, is a fundamental freedom. However, in the face of countless tragedies, including two 16-year-olds who were shot in Wilmington in recent weeks and recent deadly mass shootings in El Paso, Odessa, and Dayton, we need to offer more than thoughts and prayers.
     
    We must take action to keep our communities safe.
     
    It’s clear that we need to enact laws to make it more difficult for deadly weapons to find their way into the wrong hands, and Delawareans — on both sides of the issue — agree.
     
    The Senator’s full column is available here. 
     
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    Bill recognizing ‘Hidden Figures’ for contributions to the U.S. during the Space Race signed into law

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House announced that President Trump signed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) in the Senate and U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) in the House.
     
    “I am proud President Trump signed into law this bipartisan bill to honor Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Dr. Christine Darden and all women who contributed to NASA during the Space Race with Congressional Gold Medals,” said Senator Coons. “Women played an integral role at NASA during the Space Race, but for many years their accomplishments remained hidden. With the signing of this bill, we are recognizing these extraordinary women and bringing their accomplishments into the light so they can serve as an inspiration for generations of women scientists to come, particularly those of color.”
     
    “I am thrilled to hear that the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act has been signed into law by the President,”said Congresswoman Johnson, Chairwoman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. “This bill was long overdue, and I would like to thank my colleagues in both the House and the Senate for supporting this legislation. Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women of NASA and NACA will now receive the recognition they deserve for their great accomplishments in the successes of the United States space program.”
     
    In the Senate, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) joined Senator Coons in introducing the legislation as original cosponsors. Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) was an original cosponsor in the House.
     
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