Sens. Coons, Murkowski, and Harris Applaud Senate Passage of bill during Women’s History Month to recognize ‘Hidden Figures’ for contributions to U.S. leadership during the Space Race

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) today applauded Senate passage of a bipartisan bill they introduced, along with 68 of their colleagues, to award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson and Dr. Christine Darden and to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. The bill would also award a fifth Congressional Gold Medal to honor all women who contributed to NASA during the Space Race. The bill commends these women for their contributions to NASA’s success and highlights their broader impact on society; paving the way for women, especially women of color, in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the U.S. It is awarded to those who have performed an achievement that has had an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized in the recipient’s field for years to come.

The Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act will honor:

• Katherine Johnson, who calculated trajectories for multiple NASA space missions including the first human spaceflight by an American, Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission. She also calculated trajectories for John Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission to orbit the earth. During her time at NASA, she became the first woman recognized as an author of a report from the Flight Research Division. 
• Dorothy Vaughan, who led the West Area Computing unit for nine years, as the first African American supervisor at National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. She later became an expert programmer in FORTRAN as a part of NASA’s Analysis and Computation Division.
• Mary Jackson, who petitioned the City of Hampton to allow her to take graduate-level courses in math and physics at night at the all-white Hampton High School in order to become an engineer at NASA. She was the first female African-American engineer at the agency. Later in her career, she worked to improve the prospects of NASA’s female mathematicians, engineers, and scientists as Langley’s Federal Women’s Program Manager. 
• Dr. Christine Darden, who became an engineer at NASA 16 years after Mary Jackson. She worked to revolutionize aeronautic design, wrote over 50 articles on aeronautics design, and became the first African-American person of any gender to be promoted into the Senior Executive Service at Langley. 

The lives and careers of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden were featured in the book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, by Margot Lee Shetterly. That book was adapted into the 2016 film Hidden Figures. 

The bill will also honor the hundreds of other women who contributed to the success of NASA during the Space Race by serving as computers, mathematicians, and engineers.

“I am proud the Senate passed 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 passage of this bill, we are one important step closer to 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’m encouraged by the Senate’s support of the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. This Act will award one of the highest civilian honors given by Congress to Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dr. Christine Darden—four women who overcame significant hurdles to attain their educational and professional goals, serving as mathematicians, programmers, and engineers at NASA when the agency was emerging from segregation,” said Senator Murkowski. “I hope the support of this bill will encourage young women across the nation to pursue study and careers in STEM.”

“These women made monumental contributions to science and our nation,” said Senator Harris. “Their groundbreaking accomplishments helped us win the space race but remained in the dark far too long. I am proud these remarkable women are one step closer to finally receiving the recognition they deserve. They remain a beacon for Black women across the country, both young and old.” 

A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives, led by U.S. Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.) and Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. 

The Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act is endorsed by the Girl Scouts of the USA, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Physical Society, Association for Women in Science, National Association for Equal Opportunity, Society of Women Engineers, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund, National Center for Women and Information Technology, Hampton Roads Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Association for Women in Math, American Mathematical Society, National Association of Mathematicians, Mathematical Association of America, National Congress of Black Women, AnitaB.org, American Chemical Society, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Statements of support can be found here. 

Sens. Coons, Cassidy Introduce Economic Mobility Corps Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and expand the direct services of certified nonprofit Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and connect national service participants with meaningful economic opportunity service. The Economic Mobility Corps Act would instruct the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the agency that carries out national service programs such as AmeriCorps, and the Department of the Treasury to establish a competitive grant program to place national service members at certified nonprofit CDFIs. This initiative addresses the current recruiting challenges and will cultivate talented, dedicated American volunteers who possess a unique mixture of financial skills and commitment to the CDFI mission.

“Commitment to public service that builds, engages, uplifts, and empowers is at the very heart of what it means to be American,” said Senator Coons, who serves as co-chair of the National Service Caucus. “We should be cultivating the next generation of community development workforce leaders through the Economic Mobility Corps Act. Some of those national service members will stay in the CDFI industry following their service and use their newly gained financial and community development planning skills, creating a long-term positive impact on the industry and the communities they serve.”

“Community Development Financial Institutions leverage private dollars to fund projects that improve our communities,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This legislation supports these efforts through empowering national service members to work with local community service leaders.”

The Economic Mobility Corps Act is endorsed by the CDFI Coalition and Voices for National Service.

Background 

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven financial lenders. There are more than 1,000 Treasury-certified CDFIs located in all 50 States, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico. CDFIs have successfully provided critical and responsible financial products and services that have benefited low-income and distressed communities as well as community businesses since the program’s inception in 1994. CDFIs leverage $12 in private capital for every dollar in federal support.

The bill text is available here. 

A one page summary is available here. 

Sen. Coons cosponsors legislation to bring down prescription drug costs

WASHINGTON – In an effort to tackle the high costs of prescription drugs for consumers, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) is cosponsoring four key pieces of legislation aimed at lowering drug prices and increasing transparency. Coons is a cosponsor of the Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Prices Act, which will allow Medicare to negotiate the best possible price of prescription drugs and cut costs for nearly 300,000 Delaware seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D. 

He is also cosponsoring the SPIKE ACT, RxCAP Act, and C-THRU Act to hold drug manufacturers accountable for exorbitant price increases, cap out-of-pocket prescription drug spending for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, and require more transparency for rebates negotiated on behalf of drug manufacturers and distributors to ensure they directly benefit patients.

“We have to take action to address the rising cost of prescription drugs, which is placing an inordinate burden on Delaware families,” said Coons. “Today, too many seniors are forced to choose between paying for their medication and buying groceries, and too many individuals are paying thousands – even tens of thousands – of dollars for prescriptions their lives quite literally depend upon. 

“Our biggest challenge is that we want to continue to have new inventions and discoveries – we want news cures for cancer, and we want new treatments for asthma – but those inventions and discoveries only go so far if American families cannot afford them. These bills represent meaningful steps we can take right now to lower drug prices in a responsible way and ensure Delawareans can get the medications they need.”

Legislation being pushed by Senator Coons:

• Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act – legislation introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), which would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to directly negotiate price discounts with drug companies for the Medicare Prescription Drug Program. Current law prohibits Medicare from using its purchasing power to negotiate lower prices from prescription drug companies.
• Stopping the Pharmaceutical Industry from Keeping Drugs Expensive (SPIKE) Act – legislation that would require drug manufacturers to publicly report their justification for exorbitant increases in drug prices. For example, if a pharmaceutical company raises the price of one of their drugs by at least 100 percent over the course of a year, under the SPIKE Act, they would be required to submit justification for that significant increase. Under current law, drug manufacturers are not required to publicly report increases in the list price, and there is no mechanism to deter them from significantly raising their drug prices over time. 
• RxCAP Act – legislation that would eliminate all cost-sharing for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part D above the current out-of-pocket threshold. Under current law, Medicare Part D provides coverage above the threshold only with cost-sharing in the form of either copayment or coinsurance.
• C-THRU Act – a bill requiring that information related to the rebates negotiated between pharmacy benefit managers and drug manufacturers be made available to the public. The SPIKE ACT, RXCAPS Act, and C-THRU Act were introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Last Congress, the Senate passed, and the President signed, a Coons-backed bill that would remove so called “gag clauses,” which prohibit pharmacists from telling consumers about a less expensive alternative. Senator Coons will continue working in the Senate toward safe, effective, bipartisan solutions to address prescription drug costs for Delaware families.

Coons and Toomey Renew Fight in Support of Gun Safety Legislation

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) are renewing their bipartisan push to strengthen gun safety laws.

The NICS Denial Notification Act provides states with critical information to help them enforce existing laws against individuals who attempt to purchase firearms but have no legal right to do so. Under this measure, federal authorities would now be required to alert state law enforcement within 24 hours when individuals “lie and try” to purchase firearms, which can be a warning sign of additional criminal behavior.

“We have seen too many tragic instances when an individual who should not have been able to obtain a gun used one to commit horrible crimes,” said Senator Coons. “The American people have called on Congress to act, and the NICS Denial Notification Act is one commonsense step we should take. By ensuring that federal and state law enforcement can work together to prevent those who shouldn’t be able to buy a gun from getting one, we can make our communities safer. This is exactly the sort of bipartisan step Congress should be able to support.”

“When a convicted felon lies about his conviction in an attempt to purchase a gun, he is committing a new felony. This happens regularly in America,” said Senator Toomey. “Unfortunately, these crimes largely go unprosecuted. We can make progress on gun safety while respecting the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. This bipartisan bill will help to make our communities safer from criminals by better enforcing existing gun laws and responding to warning signs of criminal behavior.”

Federal officials are notified when individuals who are legally prohibited from purchasing a firearm (such as convicted felons, fugitives, and domestic abusers) try to buy a gun but fail a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check. These attempted purchases often violate federal and state laws. Unfortunately, the federal government rarely prosecutes any of these individuals.

In the 13 states that run their own background checks using the FBI’s NICS system, state authorities are aware when prohibited persons fail background checks and can have state law enforcement investigate these cases. However, in the 37 states and the District of Columbia that rely on the FBI to run some or all of their background checks, state authorities generally are not aware when prohibited persons fail background checks run by the FBI. Individuals who are willing to “lie and try” to buy a gun may be dangerous and willing to obtain guns through other means. As a result, these states and D.C. lack critical law enforcement intelligence that they could use to try to keep their communities safe.

In addition to Senators Toomey and Coons, the NICS Denial Notification Act is also co-sponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.).

About the NICS Denial Notification Act:

• Requires federal authorities to alert state law enforcement of background checks denials, so that state authorities can decide whether to investigate, prosecute, and/or keep an eye on these denied individuals for signs of future criminal activity.
• Requires DOJ to publish an annual report with statistics about its prosecution of background check denial cases, so Congress and voters can hold federal officials accountable.
• Endorsed by: Fraternal Order of Police; Major Cities Chiefs Police Association; Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; National District Attorneys Association; Firearms Owners Against Crime; National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Everytown for Gun Safety; Giffords

Sen. Coons’ statement on Special Counsel Mueller delivering his report to AG Barr

WILMINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Special Counsel Robert Mueller provided Attorney General William Barr with the report from his investigation.

“Since the day that Robert Mueller was named Special Counsel, his investigation’s most essential purpose has been to give an assessment of whether there was unlawful cooperation between the Trump campaign and Russian efforts to interfere in the election and whether there was obstruction of justice in an effort to interfere with that investigation.  Now that his work has concluded, we must ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that the American people get the information they deserve from this extensive investigation.

“Attorney General Barr must now provide the Special Counsel’s full report and additional investigative materials to Congress. Congress needs to have access to all the information from the investigation that does not need to remain classified or be kept confidential in order to avoid interference with other, ongoing investigations.

“Finally, Attorney General Barr needs to publicly and unequivocally commit to allowing additional, relevant investigations into President Trump’s business and campaign activities, like those in the Southern District of New York, to proceed without interference from the Trump administration or the Department of Justice.

“Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation has been anything but a partisan witch hunt.  It has produced 37 indictments and guilty pleas, including from several of President Trump’s most senior business and political advisors.  Attorney General Barr must now ensure that justice is served and that the American people are provided the information they deserve from the Special Counsel’s investigation.”

Bipartisan, bicameral resolution introduced celebrating contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), along with U.S. Representatives David Price (D-N.C.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), today introduced a resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of Americans in celebration of AmeriCorps Week 2019. Over 75,000 Americans serve their communities, states, and the nation through AmeriCorps programs each year, totaling more than one million AmeriCorps alumni since the program’s founding in 1994.  These one million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.5 billion hours of service helping to tackle our nation’s most pressing problems and mobilizing millions of community volunteers. 

“Commitment to service that builds, engages, uplifts, and empowers is at the very heart of what it means to be American,” said Senator Coons. “My time with the first national direct AmeriCorps program changed my life in the best way possible, and I continue to be inspired by what AmeriCorps members are doing every day in Delaware and across the country to address critical community needs and give back – both during and after their service. AmeriCorps provides an important conduit through which our citizens become engaged in civic society, and I am proud to recognize this service during AmeriCorps Week 2019.”  

“AmeriCorps members dedicate their time to serve their communities and are a valuable resource for those in need,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Time and again they’ve helped the people of Louisiana recover in the wake of terrible disasters.”

“I’m heartened by the service of thousands of AmeriCorps members that choose to invest their time and energy to strengthen communities in North Carolina and across the country,” said Congressman David Price. “As co-chair of the National Service Caucus, I’m proud to join my colleagues in celebrating their contributions.”

“Service to our country comes in all forms and attracts people of all ages and backgrounds with the sole goal of helping meet community needs and increase civic engagement,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Across the country, citizens join together to respond to disasters, increase economic opportunity, and recruit and manage volunteers. I am proud that this resolution recognizes the service programs that impact individuals and benefit our communities and our nation.”

Co-sponsors of the resolution include Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore), along with Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.).

To view the resolution, please click here.

ICYMI: Sen. Coons in The Philadelphia Inquirer: “The U.S. must stand with, not alienate, our allies”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, published an op-ed about the Munich Security Conference and the importance of standing with our allies to address pressing challenges. 

Munich reminds us the U.S. must stand with, not alienate, our allies

By Chris Coons

I recently returned from a gathering of the world’s top security officials in Munich, Germany, deeply concerned about America’s standing in the world.

Last month, I joined more than 50 senators and representatives at the Munich Security Conference. The annual gathering began in 1963, during the height of the Cold War, to bring Americans and their transatlantic allies together to discuss the world’s most pressing security challenges.

It is clear from my discussions in Munich that our allies have serious doubts about American leadership and the current course of U.S. foreign policy. It’s normal for us to at times disagree with our allies — sometimes it can be a useful exercise to reach a better outcome. But I am worried that this administration’s treatment of our allies has further alienated them at a time when we need them most.

As the world evolves, we must make necessary adjustments to our foreign policy to ensure it continues to serve U.S. interests. But the United States cannot tackle — much less resolve — the multitude of global challenges we face on our own. We cannot stop Russian and Chinese aggression, cyber crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, global pandemics, or climate change, to name a few, without partners. 

To read the full column, click here. 

Sens. Coons, Graham, Merkley, Rubio, Young introduce bipartisan bill to combat international extremism and reduce instability in fragile countries

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) today introduced legislation to improve the coordination of U.S. government efforts to reduce violent extremism and address global fragility. The legislation also establishes a global Partnership Development Fund to leverage public and private resources from partners around the world to tackle this national security threat.  

Fragile states can become threats to the security of the United States because their governments are seen as ineffective or illegitimate by their citizens, heightening the risk of terrorism, violent conflict, criminal activity, and corruption.  Violent conflict also drives global displacement, with nearly 70 million people forcibly displaced around the world. The Global Fragility Act, responds to these challenges by requiring the Secretary of State, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Secretary of Defense, to collaborate on a 10-year initiative to reduce fragility in at least five priority countries.

“The United States is a leader in responding to global humanitarian crises, yet lacks a long-term, cohesive strategy for addressing the root causes of extremism and instability that turn fragile states into failed states,” said Senator Coons. “The United States has spent nearly $5.9 trillion in the 18 years since 9/11 in combatting extremism and terrorism around the world. This legislation is a genuinely bipartisan approach to prevent terrorism from taking hold in the first place. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees, I am pleased to be working with this bipartisan group of my colleagues to enact a framework that will promote the stabilization of fragile environments where terrorists thrive, build peace, and maximize the impact of U.S. foreign assistance.”

“Our goal is to prevent fragile states from falling into the abyss and becoming breeding grounds for extremists,” said Senator Graham. “To do that, we have to have partners.  At the end of the day, we have to offer a hopeful life to compete against the extremists dark vision of a glorious death.  Finally, we are not talking about nation-building; instead, we are talking about the United States doing more on deterrence and prevention which, in the long run, will make us safer at home.”

“Strategic intervention to diminish violence and instability around the world is both the moral and the practical thing to do,” said Senator Merkley. “For decades, the U.S. has been a world leader in alleviating human suffering. It’s time for us to continue and build upon that tradition with this bipartisan bill.”

“As the U.S. responds to the many humanitarian crises around the world, we must address the factors driving instability and violence. It is both moral and in our national security interest to promote stable and prosperous countries that can one day be reliable allies and partners. I am proud to join this bipartisan group of senators in reintroducing legislation to better coordinate efforts between government agencies aimed at preventing instability in fragile states and ensuring our tax dollars are being spent efficiently,” said Senator Rubio.

“It is imperative that we address the root causes of conflict before crises can develop. I am proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan bill that seeks to prevent human suffering in places like Yemen and prevent us from having to deploy our men and women in uniform to these fragile states,” said Senator Young.

The bill text is available here.

Sens. Coons co-sponsors proposal to cut taxes for families with children

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons today co-sponsored the American Family Act of 2019 to overhaul the existing Child Tax Credit and make it a dramatically more effective tool for supporting middle-class families with kids and reducing child poverty. The bill was introduced with 36 original Senate cosponsors and 174 original House cosponsors, indicating a major show of support from across the Democratic Caucus.

The bill would create a new $300 per-month, per-child credit for children under 6 years of age and a $250 per-month, per-child credit for children under 17 years of age—increasing the credit for all children and, for the first time, making the credit fully refundable.

“I am proud to work with my colleagues in introducing the American Family Act to improve the Child Tax Credit, a powerful anti-poverty tool that helps working parents with children,” said Sen. Coons. “Unfortunately, the Republican tax bill was tilted in favor of wealthy individuals. This bill, as part of a broader tax reform that maintains or increases revenue, has the potential to cut our country’s child poverty rate nearly in half and virtually eliminate the share of children living in extreme poverty. This would create lasting improvements in child health and educational outcomes, and I look forward to advancing this family-based legislation.”

Background

The American Family Act would replace the current Child Tax Credit with an expanded version based on the latest research about what works to improve outcomes for children. The Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy recently released a report that found the American Family Act would cut child poverty by 38 percent.

Specifically, the legislation would:

• Create a New Expanded Credit for Children under 6. The bill would create a new Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) of $300 per month ($3,600 per year) for children under 6 years of age, up from the current maximum of $2,000 per year.

• Increase the Maximum Child Tax Credit for All Children under 17. The bill would expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to $250 per month ($3,000 per year) for children 6 years of age or older, up from the current maximum of $2,000 per year.

• Make Both Credits Fully Refundable. The bill would make both the YCTC and CTC fully refundable, meaning that all low-income families would receive the full credit for each child. The current CTC only begins to phase-in after a taxpayer has earned $2,500 of income and at a rate of 15 cents for every dollar of additional income. In addition, only $1,400 of the $2,000 credit is refundable. For these reasons, one-third of all children – 27 million – do not currently receive the full $2,000 CTC credit.

• Benefit the Middle Class. The bill would provide a tax credit for all individuals with children who earn less than $150,000 per year and all married couples with children who earn less than $200,000 per year.

• Index the Credit for Inflation. The bill would index both YCTC and CTC levels for inflation (rounding to the nearest $50) to preserve the value of the credit going forward. The current CTC is not indexed for inflation.

• Set Up Advance Payments on a Monthly Basis. The bill would call on the Treasury Secretary to set up monthly advance payments for the YCTC and CTC no later than a year after passage for taxpayers anticipated to receive a refund. Monthly payments would smooth families’ incomes and spending levels over the course of a year, helping them make ends meet during difficult months.

• The bill text is available HERE. A fact sheet is available HERE.

The following organizations have endorsed the American Family Act: Center for American Progress, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Care Aware of America, Children’s Defense Fund, Community Change Action, Economic Security Project, First Focus, MomsRising, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Women’s Law Center, Niskanen Center, Service Employees International Union, Zero and to Three.

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Sens. Coons, Cassidy work to help Americans plan for debilitating illness or condition

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to create electronic advance directives, legal documents that allow patients to clearly articulate their preferences for their medical care should they suffer from a debilitating illness or condition. The Medicare Choices Empowerment and Protection Act would offer a small, one-time financial incentive to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to provide clear legal guidance to their medical providers and family members should they become incapable of speaking for themselves. This legislation would incentivize Medicare beneficiaries themselves to create and register a certified and secure advance directive online.  In addition, the bill would provide beneficiaries with access to a website with model advance directives representing a range of options.  The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).  

According to a 2006 study by the Pew Research Center, 70 percent of Americans have thought about their health care preferences should they be faced with a life-threatening illness or injury, but only one-third have completed an advance directive. Under the Medicare Choices Empowerment and Protection Act, Medicare beneficiaries would be able to voluntarily create and register an electronic advance directive with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at any time. Advance directives would be created through, and maintained by, outside organizations certified by CMS, and could be modified or terminated at any time by the beneficiary. An advance directive would include any written statement that outlines the kind of treatment and care a beneficiary wants or does not want under certain conditions, and can include identification of a health care proxy. Beneficiaries would also receive a small, one-time incentive for registering an electronic advance directive. 

To address concerns about confidentiality, the Medicare Choices Empowerment and Protection Act requires both CMS and outside groups maintaining advance directives to hold the highest standards for privacy and security protection as well as system functionality. CMS would only keep track of the certified organization through which a beneficiary has created an advance directive and would not keep a database of these documents. The bill does not interfere with any state laws governing advance directives.  

“I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to empower patients to make their own health decisions,” said Sen. Coons. “By encouraging more Americans to have these difficult, but critically important conversations about the kind of medical care they wish to receive, this bill can help reduce heartache and confusion and allow patients to spend their final days as they see fit.”  

“This legislation gives power to the patient, so they can consult with their doctor to better decide end of life issues,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“We commend the bipartisan leadership of Senators Coons, Cassidy, Barrasso, and Bennet for introducing legislation that allows Americans to have their voices heard in their own health care at all times, even during a crisis when they may not be able to communicate,” said Jeff Zucker, CEO of ADVault, creators of digital emergency advance care planning platform MyDirectives.com. “This bill is essential to encouraging high-quality person-centered care, improving consumer and provider satisfaction and patient safety.”

The bill is also supported by the National Right to Life Committee.