Ranking Member Coons announces opposition to House Republicans’ ‘Dirty’ CR

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement announcing his intent to oppose the government funding bill passed by House Republicans yesterday:

“For nearly two months, President Trump and Elon Musk have been shutting down our government piecemeal, illegally shuttering programs, agencies, and now attempting to close entire departments. I do not want to shut down our government, I want to improve it, streamline it and ensure it delivers services our communities need. That’s why I oppose the continuing resolution passed by House Republicans last night.

“The House Republican bill enables Trump’s and Musk’s devastating and unconstitutional cuts that have reduced our government’s ability to protect public health and safety, made it harder for seniors to get their Social Security checks, and created an opening for China by dismantling our foreign aid partnerships. The bill also eliminates over $100 million for my state that would help build affordable housing, grow small businesses, and strengthen health and education. It even prevents congressional oversight of Trump’s disastrous tariffs.

“As the lead Senate Democrat in charge of defense spending, I will not stand by and help Republicans pass a bill that cuts defense spending by billions of dollars. Secretary Hegseth prevented our military leaders from speaking up about these cuts, but they are real and measurable. The topline increase Republicans are touting is a budgetary sleight of hand. At a time when Trump is actively making our world less safe, we should not be cutting defense spending, reducing our military readiness, and making ourselves less prepared to face the threats of the future.

“I urge my Senate colleagues to vote against this bill. Instead, we should pass a short-term funding extension that allows us to finish the appropriations process and includes measures that defend our constitutionally mandated appropriations power from executive overreach.”

Senator Coons is the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

As part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, congressional Republicans agreed to fund defense spending at $895 billion for FY25. The House Republican continuing resolution funds defense spending at $892 billion, a cut of $3 billion. Additionally, the House continuing resolution also diverts $8 billion intended for the entire Defense Department to fund continued operations in the Middle East.

Senators Coons, Cassidy, colleagues celebrate AmeriCorps Week

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and a group of colleagues introduced a resolution in celebration of AmeriCorps Week, which runs March 9-15. Founded more than 30 years ago to increase national service opportunities while providing a pathway to education, AmeriCorps members come from all backgrounds and walks of life to engage in meaningful service for others.

“More than one million AmeriCorps members have committed themselves to making a positive impact on our nation for over three decades,” said Senator Coons. “This week, we celebrate their efforts to mentor students, address food insecurity, improve public health, respond to disasters, protect our planet, and support local communities across the country. As Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, I will continue to work with my colleagues to strengthen national service, and I encourage all those contemplating service to consider AmeriCorps as a way to make impactful change.”

“AmeriCorps members dedicate their lives to others. They empower students, support veterans, and build stronger communities,” said Senator Cassidy. “This can’t go unnoticed.”

“AmeriCorps works for America every day of the year,” said Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, Interim Agency Head, AmeriCorps. “Every single day, Americans of all ages dedicate their time to strengthening their communities and our nation as a whole. Whether they are building homes, feeding their neighbors, responding to disasters, or tutoring and mentoring students, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers work alongside people from all walks of life to get the job done. We are thankful for those who serve and go on to be tomorrow’s leaders and public servants get their start.”

Senator Coons and Senator Cassidy are co-Chairs of the National Service Caucus. The resolution was also cosponsored by National Service Caucus Vice Chair Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

AmeriCorps by the numbers, nationally:

200,000 members and volunteers in more than 2,000 organizations dedicated to strengthening their communities in 2024.
245,000 veterans and military families connected to education opportunities, jobs, and benefits they have earned.
310,000 elderly Americans provided with independent living services.
$4.8 billion earned in education awards by AmeriCorps members since 1994.

AmeriCorps by the numbers in Delaware:

$9.1 million in AmeriCorps investment, including more than $6.6 million in federal funding.
220 service locations and 1,322 members of all ages and backgrounds united to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity in Delaware.
5.7 million hours worked and more than $14.9 million in education awards earned by more than 3,900 Delaware residents since 1994.
$5.9 million in education award payments to higher education institutions and other organizations in Delaware.

Senator Coons statement on Trump’s further dismantling of U.S. foreign assistance

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the State Department would be cancelling 83% of programs at USAID:

“President Trump’s decisions are making America isolated, vulnerable, and less safe. The work of foreign assistance prevents China from expanding its influence, advances American interests, and prevents disasters before they reach our shores. It stops diseases like Ebola and Marburg from coming here and infecting Americans, stabilizes communities facing conflict so terrorists and extremists can’t take root and spread their poisonous ideology, and mitigates the recruitment efforts of traffickers who smuggle fentanyl and other drugs across our borders. The swift and dramatic shrinking of our footprint around the world is already empowering our adversaries and alarming our friends. This is another illegal move from an administration that has shown outright hostility to the rule of law and separation of powers.

“The funds saved by abruptly cancelling these programs will be swallowed up by Trump’s tax cuts for billionaires, but the chasm left behind in their absence will be felt for decades.”

ICYMI: Senator Coons discusses how faith impacts his work on Fox News’ ‘Livin’ the Bream’ Podcast

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Fox News Sunday’s Shannon Bream’s Livin’ The Bream Podcast yesterday to speak about how his Christian faith has shaped his career in public service and Democratic values, and why he believes the Democratic Party should be more willing to talk about faith.

During the interview, Senator Coons spoke about how his parents modeled an active and inclusive faith, teaching values that shaped his path to public service. He shared how his family’s guidance influenced his decision to run for office and reflected on the role faith should play in the Democratic Party. Senator Coons also shared how his faith drives his advocacy on foreign aid, poverty issues, and other topics.

Livin’ the Bream: Senator Chris Coons On Faith And Politics

Senator Coons: I try to make it clear when I’m at home in Delaware and speaking at events and doing events, that I feel a special obligation to make sure that the way I’m conducting myself as an elected official who represents a million people of a wide range of backgrounds, that I am thoughtful about the concerns of those who are not from a religious background or who happen to be Muslim or Jewish or from the very broad Christian family and to respect their traditions and their holidays and their values. But I think it’s a mistake to hide the fact that most of the Democrats I serve with were moved to get into public service by their childhood experiences in a faith community. A number of my colleagues, as I have started a Lenten reflection series, have come up to me and said, ‘boy, I’d love to join you in that.’

…

I do think it’s important to remember that the Gospel is not a religious document. It is neither Republican nor Democrat. It does not say, you know, thou shalt prioritize tax cuts over feeding the hungry. It does not say, you know, thou shalt put at the top of your list this concern or that concern. And so communities of faith have had for centuries to try and discern which are the most important of the calls to us from Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, and I choose to– or I believe that I am correctly prioritizing – a focus on economic justice. There are 2,000 references directly in Scripture to the poor and to the widow and the orphan and the refugee. And it is what Christ focused on, in reading a passage from Isaiah 61 in his first sermon.

…

I would like to use the power of government, as I understand it, to ensure that a very small percent, less than 1% of our budget, is being used to feed the poor and the hungry, to help advance access to clean water and public health here at home and around the world… And there are issues that I think have been used to divide us, when in fact an awful lot of what we want to do together crosses that.

Senators Coons, Shaheen, Warner, Reed, Kelly, and Reps. Himes, Smith release joint statement on European Security Announcement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), ranking member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jack Reed (D-R.I), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee released the following statement about the announcement of a new European security agreement:

“We applaud the bold new steps outlined by our European partners to strengthen their defense and stand with Ukraine on the frontlines of democracy. This historic announcement paves the way for more than $800b in additional defense investments across the continent and shows that the leaders of Europe are clear-eyed about the dangers we face and are willing to rise to the challenge. They understand that a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace rests on strengthening our collective defense and deterrence, particularly in the face of a growing alignment between our adversaries in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

“This announcement also demonstrates Europe’s resolve in working to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Ukraine must come to the negotiating table from as strong a position as possible in pursuit of a deal that protects Ukrainian sovereignty, strengthens transatlantic security, and ensures that Putin and his fellow dictators understand that aggression will never triumph over the drive for freedom. Our own nation’s strategy towards Ukraine was driven by that reality. For the past three years, we’ve been helping Ukraine on the battlefield to ensure it has the strongest position at the negotiating table. We know Putin will only stop when we stop him, and Ukrainian troops have been bravely fighting and dying to achieve that goal without putting any of our own servicemembers in harm’s way. That must continue. Now, the Europeans, who have already contributed more to Ukraine’s war effort than we have, have pledged major increases in defense spending and investments and signaled that they will take the lead in crafting a package of security guarantees to give Ukraine the best chance to ensure their security and bring the war to an end. The United States is stronger and safer when we stand with our partners in Europe, and we must continue to do so.”

###

Senator Coons, Representative Hunt, colleagues urge the implementation of reforms aligning with their bipartisan, bicameral Safer Supervision Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Representative Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) and a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues in a new letter applauded and urged finalization of a proposal by the United States Sentencing Commission to improve the federal supervised release system in ways that align with their bipartisan, bicameral Safer Supervision Act. In addition to Senator Coons and Rep. Hunt, the letter was signed by bill cosponsors Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Ala.), and the late U.S. Representative Sylvester Turner (D-Texas).

In January, the Commission unanimously proposed reforms to federal supervised release guidelines that would help ensure that scarce supervision resources are allocated in a manner that best promote public safety, that would restore discretion to courts in the imposition, termination, and revocation of supervision, and that would provide individuals with positive incentives to rehabilitate and reintegrate. These principles align with the Safer Supervision Act introduced in August 2023. In their letter, the lawmakers wrote that while there is no substitute for enactment of the Safer Supervision Act, the Commission “should finalize an amendment that robustly implements the letter and spirit of the bill to the extent it can do so within its authority.”

The bill has gained strong support from organizations across the political spectrum, as well as law enforcement groups, faith groups, and civil rights groups. The support demonstrates the widespread acceptance how reform of federal supervision can “improve public safety, support law enforcement, use taxpayer dollars more responsibly, and better position people to succeed after they have served their time in prison.”

“We would encourage the Commission to consider how it could go further to implement the letter and spirit of the bill,” the lawmakers continued. “Additional guidance, including a presumption along the lines of the bill, could better instruct courts on the interest-of-justice standard and ensure that they use early termination when supervision is no longer necessary for the purposes it was imposed, rather than just in the most extraordinary of cases. With appropriate notice, supervisees will then have actionable positive incentives to rehabilitate and reintegrate, to the benefit of public safety.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus.

You can read the full letter here.

Senators Coons, Cramer introduce bill to expand access to rental assistance program for affordable housing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced their Choice in Affordable Housing Act today to improve the federal government’s largest rental assistance program. The bipartisan bill would make it easier to access Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs)—often referred to as Section 8 vouchers—and attract and retain landlords to participate in the program. As a result, eligible low-income families will have greater housing options and improved access to high-opportunity neighborhoods. The bill has been introduced in the House by Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Mike Lawler (D-N.Y.). This bill was initially introduced in the 117th Congress.

“As County Executive and County Council President, I saw firsthand the life-changing impact that a safe, affordable home had for Delaware families,” said Senator Coons. “Families in the First State and across the nation need better options when they are looking for a home, and landlords need support to be able to bring their properties into the Section 8 market. This bill is a huge step forward towards those goals so more Americans in every corner of our country can feel at home.”

“Increases in housing costs mean millions of renters struggle to find affordable places to live,” said Senator Cramer. “The success of the Housing Choice Voucher program is contingent on landlords providing adequate housing options. Herschel Lashkowitz’s legacy of affordable housing advocacy lives on through this commonsense bill by boosting the supply of options for renters to use their vouchers.”

“In New York, especially in the Hudson Valley, skyrocketing housing costs have made it harder for working families to find affordable housing. This bill takes a common-sense approach—cutting red tape, giving landlords more incentive to participate, and expanding housing options for those who need it most. By making the Housing Choice Voucher program work better, we’re helping families find stable housing while ensuring property owners have the support they need to stay in the program. I’m glad to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done,” said Congressman Lawler.

“The greatest threat to our economic recovery is the housing affordability crisis that is holding back hardworking families in communities across the country,” said Congressman Cleaver. “To ensure working-class families have access to affordable housing options, it is imperative that Congress work to remove burdensome barriers within the Housing Choice Voucher Program that limit landlord participation and where vouchers can be utilized. The Choice in Affordable Housing Act will implement long overdue reforms to the HCV program to increase the number of landlords offering units in the private rental market, while also providing low-income families greater access to housing options in higher opportunity areas. That’s a win for everyone involved, and I’ll keep working with Representative Lawler, along with Senator Coons and Cramer, until our bipartisan bill is signed into law.”

The bill has been endorsed by the National Affordable Housing Management Association, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Housing Law Project, Habitat for Humanity International, the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders, Enterprise Community Partners, the National Association of Residential Property Managers, the National Leased Housing Association, the Institute of Real Estate Management, the National Rental Home Council, the Poverty & Race Research Action Council, RESULTS Education Fund, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the National Multifamily Housing Council, the National Apartment Association, the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, and the Building Owners and Managers Association.

“The National Apartment Association (NAA) and our more than 95,000 members understand the vital role of the housing choice voucher program in addressing America’s housing crisis. We support the Choice Act, which addresses many challenges our members encounter, and are ready to collaborate with Congress to reform the program. We appreciate the leadership of Senators Cramer and Coons, as well as Representatives Lawler and Cleaver, in introducing this crucial legislation,” said Bob Pinnegar, President & CEO, National Apartment Association.

In addition to Senators Coons and Cramer, the bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), John Curtis (R-Utah), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

The HCV program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) helps more than 5 million low-income people, including the elderly and people with disabilities, afford safe and decent housing in the private rental market. More than two-thirds of those households are headed by a person of color. Administered by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), families that receive a voucher pay 30% of household income toward rent and utilities while the PHA pays the landlord the remaining rent. HCVs increase housing stability, reduce homelessness, and each year lift more than 1 million people out of poverty.

The HCV program relies on private-market landlords to accept vouchers. Because the number of participating landlords has declined in recent years, voucher holders experience a difficult housing search process with fewer options. To increase voucher holders’ housing choices and improve access to high-opportunity areas, the Choice in Affordable Housing Act would:

Provide $500 million to create the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund. Named after the longtime Fargo, North Dakota mayor who was an advocate for affordable housing, the funds would be distributed for:

PHAs to offer a signing bonus to a landlord with a unit in a low-poverty area;
PHAs to provide security deposit assistance, so that tenants can better afford to meet required deposits, and landlords are assured greater protection against damages;
HUD to provide a bonus to PHAs that retain a dedicated landlord liaison on staff; and
Other uses as determined by the PHA and approved by the Secretary to recruit and retain landlords.

Increase funding to the Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program. To help renters on tribal land, the bill supports the Tribal HUD-VASH program for Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Use neighborhood-specific data to set rents fairly. The bill would require HUD to expand its 2016 rule requiring the use of Small Area Fair Market Rents to calculate fair rents in certain metro areas.
Reduce inspection delays. Units in buildings financed by other federal housing programs would meet the voucher inspection if the unit has been inspected in the past year. New landlords could also request a pre-inspection from a PHA prior to selecting a voucher-holder.
Refocus HUD’s evaluation of housing agencies. The bill would encourage HUD to reform its annual evaluation of PHAs to promote an increase in the diversity of neighborhoods where vouchers are used. The bill also requires HUD to report to Congress annually on the effects of the bill.

Senator Coons has long been an advocate for housing assistance programs run by HUD. During his time in New Castle County government, he helped oversee HUD Section 8 rental assistance programs, as well as HUD affordable housing grant programs like the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Community Development Block Grant.

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds affordable housing programs. Senator Cramer is a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

A summary of the bill is available here.

The full text of the bill is available here.

Senators Coons, Cornyn introduce bill to strengthen state department’s Taiwan strategy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today introduced the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act to require the U.S. Department of State to review and update its policy guidance regarding Taiwan no less than every five years and deliver a report to Congress within 90 days in light of the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and threats of an invasion by China:

“Our commitment to Taiwan must be backed by an approach that evolves with the changing realities in the Indo-Pacific,” said Senator Coons. “The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act recognizes the importance of United States-Taiwan relations, supports our shared values, and reinforces stability in this critical region, consistent with our longstanding one China policy.”

“The threat China poses to the stability of the Indo-Pacific, including our friend and ally Taiwan, is ever-evolving, and our diplomatic guidance must be able to keep up,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would help reinstate a strong Taiwan strategy at the State Department at a time when we need it most.”

Senators Coons, Murkowski, colleagues introduce Justice for ALS Veterans Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Co-Chairs of the ALS Caucus, announced the introduction of the Justice for ALS Veterans Act. This bill, first introduced in January 2022, would guarantee that the surviving spouses of veterans receive all benefits due to them. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) introduced the legislation in the House.

“Every year, ALS robs thousands more Americans of their ability to speak, move, and eventually to live,” said Senator Coons. “Veterans who have fiercely served our nation are twice as likely to receive an ALS diagnosis, and yet, despite our efforts to support them and their families, they do not receive the full benefits they have earned in death. I’m working with Senator Murkowski to right this wrong and take better care of military families impacted by ALS.”

“ALS is a horrible disease that indiscriminately wreaks havoc on families across the country – mine included,” said Senator Murkowski. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan group of senators who are partnering with healthcare and advocacy groups to support those affected and their families. Our first reintroduction, the Justice for ALS Veterans Act, is an important first step that will aid the families of veterans who have been devastated by ALS. It’s not clear why veterans develop ALS at a such a high rate, but it is clear that we should close the loophole that has prevented surviving families from receiving the full benefits that they are entitled to.”

“Our veterans fought for us, and when they face ALS—a devastating, fast-moving disease—we must fight for them and their families. Denying a surviving spouse benefits because their loved one didn’t live long enough to meet an arbitrary requirement is not just unfair—it is a betrayal of our commitment to those who served. The Justice for ALS Veterans Act will right this wrong and ensure that the families of our brave service members receive the support they have earned and deserve,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan House ALS Caucus.

“Studies show our nation’s veterans have a higher likelihood of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis compared to non-veterans. Veterans with ALS and their families experience rapid life changes in addition to significant financial stress,” said Calaneet Balas, President and CEO of The ALS Association. “We express our gratitude to veterans and their families, as well as to the U.S. Senators who are championing the passage of the Justice for ALS Veterans Act. This legislation aims to guarantee that the families of veterans receive the benefits they rightfully deserve, without being penalized due to the rapid progression of ALS.”

“We are grateful to Senators Coons and Murkowski for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to veteran families impacted by ALS,” said Andrea Goodman, CEO of I AM ALS. “Veterans with ALS are a vital part of our community of advocates, and we are dedicated to ensuring those who bravely served our country receive the benefits they need. This legislation is critical to our effort to ensure survivors of veterans with ALS receive the benefits they deserve.”

“PVA thanks Senators Murkowski and Coons, Representatives Fitzpatrick and Pappas, and other Members of Congress who have prioritized the reintroduction of the Justice for ALS Veterans Act. Denying benefits for surviving spouses of ALS veterans due to the aggressive nature of this service-connected disability does a disservice to them. The Justice for ALS Veterans Act will ensure these survivors receive the additional financial support that is afforded to other veterans’ survivors,” said Heather Ansley, Chief Policy Officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Background:

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that renders the body unable to control muscle movement. There is no effective treatment for the disease, no known cause, and currently no cure. At present, ALS has a fatality rate of 100%. Veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS as the general public.
Current policy states that a surviving spouse and family of a deceased veteran who had a service-connected disability deemed fully debilitating for a continuous period of at least eight years prior to death receive an additional monthly stipend from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While ALS is deemed a service-connected disability, the average life expectancy for an individual diagnosed with ALS is just two to five years after diagnosis, which means that many families of an ALS-diagnosed veteran are not able to access this benefit. The Justice for ALS Veterans Act ensures that surviving spouses and families of veterans who pass away from ALS receive this additional benefit, regardless of how long an individual was living with ALS prior to their death.
The ALS Caucus remains committed to improving the lives of those living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and accelerating efforts toward a cure. The previous work of the Senate ALS Caucus includes:

Advocating for Continued Federal Funding: Securing resources for ALS research at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.
ACT for ALS Act Implementation: Ensuring the continued rollout of the legislation, which expands access to investigational therapies for those with ALS and strengthens research into effective treatments.
Community Engagement: Working with ALS patients, caregivers, and advocates to inform and shape federal policy.

A co-chair of the Senate ALS Caucus, Senator Coons has long been a proud advocate for ALS patients in the Senate. He has introduced several bipartisan bills to address ALS, including the ACT for ALS Act, which funds essential research into rare, neurodegenerative illnesses such as ALS. The bill was signed into law by President Biden in 2021.

Senators Coons, Moran introduce legislation to expand financing options for new energy projects

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) reintroduced the Financing Our Energy Future Act, which expands certain financing tools to all types of energy resources and infrastructure projects. The legislation would allow clean energy resources and infrastructure projects to form as master limited partnerships (MLPs), a tax structure currently only available to traditional energy projects. Newly eligible energy sources would include advanced nuclear, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen, biodiesel, biomass, carbon capture, and more.

“At a time when the United States needs to boost domestic energy production to meet surging demand, Congress should ensure all energy sources are competing on a level playing field,” said Senator Coons. “The Financing our Energy Future Act is a straightforward, bipartisan solution that will bolster investment in American energy projects, create good-paying jobs, and accelerate our transition to cleaner energy sources.”

“Being energy independent requires an all-of-the-above approach to energy production,” said Senator Moran. “Emerging renewable energy companies currently do not have access to a number of tax incentives available to other energy companies. Expanding these incentives to more companies will increase U.S. energy production, spur innovation, and help reduce prices for consumers.”

“NIA thanks Senator Coons and Moran for recognizing the role master limited partnerships can play in supporting our nation’s advanced nuclear energy leadership,” said Judi Greenwald, Executive Director of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance. “Their bipartisan master limited partnerships legislation will help commercialize important innovations in advanced nuclear energy and other key technologies, increase U.S. competitiveness, and create jobs.”

“The Energy Infrastructure Council commends Senators Moran and Coons, along with Representatives Estes and Thompson, for their leadership in introducing the Financing Our Energy Future Act,” said Lori Ziebart, President and CEO of the Energy Infrastructure Council. “This bipartisan legislation is one step that Congress can take this year to grow the energy economy to benefit all working-class Americans. It expands the master limited partnership structure to include new and emerging energy sources such as hydrogen, alternative energy, carbon capture and sequestration, and renewable fuels. The MLP structure has proven to be an efficient, cost-effective method for raising capital to support the development of critical energy infrastructure and provides individuals another vehicle to invest in energy infrastructure similar to real estate investment through REITS. Expanding this framework is essential as all energy sources will be needed to ensure a reliable and secure energy future. This expansion deepens the capital pool, improves market efficiency, creates jobs, and drives down costs of energy in a way that will help all Americans.”

“To strengthen its economic base and create more reliable and affordable energy, the U.S. needs tax policies that reflect the depth and breadth of America’s energy sector,” said Frank Macchiarola, American Clean Power (ACP) Association Chief Advocacy Officer. “The Financing Our Energy Future Act offers an innovative, logical approach to that challenge that will make America’s energy sector stronger and better able to serve the needs of the nation.”

“BPC Action applauds the introduction of the Financing Our Energy Future Act, an important step in incentivizing the deployment of innovative energy technologies to increase U.S. economic growth and global competitiveness,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). “We commend Sens. Moran’s and Coons’ bipartisan leadership to level the playing field for novel energy projects—including around carbon capture, utilization, and storage, energy storage, advanced nuclear, and waste-to-energy—to have the same tax-advantaged structures currently available to fossil fuels.”

“As the U.S. enters a period of increasing demand growth, it is important to include all forms of reliable energy in advantageous tax and financing structures to accelerate deployment and ensure grid reliability,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath Action. “We are excited to see advanced nuclear included in this proposal to help catalyze the next generation of advanced reactors through access to master limited partnerships.”

An MLP is a business structure that is taxed as a partnership but whose ownership interests are traded like corporate stock on a market. Currently, MLPs are only available to investors in energy portfolios for oil, natural gas, coal extraction, and pipeline projects. For projects to be an MLP, at least 90 percent of the project’s income must come from these sources. This legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend the publicly traded partnership ownership structure to renewable energy power generation projects.

In addition to Senators Coons and Moran, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Angus King (I-Maine), John Curtis (R-Utah), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The full legislation can be read here.

Related Issues