Sens. Carper, Coons co-sponsor Safe Schools Improvement Act to address root causes such as bullying

WASHINGTON, DC. – A Department of Education study found that 1 in 5 children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be impacted by bullying. In an effort to address this ongoing issue, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), joined over 20 colleagues, as co-sponsors of the Safe Schools Improvement Act. This legislation works to ensure that no child is afraid to go to school for fear of unchecked bullying and harassment. 

U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) are also cosponsors of this legislation.

Specifically, the Safe Schools Improvement Act:

• Requires schools and districts receiving federal funding to specifically prohibit bullying and harassment, including conduct based on a student’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

• Ensures that schools and school districts focus on effective prevention programs in order to better prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment both in school and online. 

• Requires that states report data on incidents of bullying and harassment to the Department of Education

Quick Stats on Bullying:

• A 2013 U.S. Department of Education study found that bullying and harassment affects more than one in every five American students between the ages of 12 through 18.

•Research shows that bullying and harassment have adverse long-term consequences, including decreased concentration at school, increased school absenteeism, damage to the victim’s self-esteem, and increased social anxiety.

• While we do have federal laws to provide support to promote school safety, there is nothing currently in place to comprehensively and expressly address issues of bullying or harassment.

• Awareness of this problem is growing.  According to a 2011 poll, 85 percent of Americans strongly support or somewhat support a federal law to require schools to enforce specific rules to prevent bullying.  As of 2018, 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted enumerated anti-bulling laws.

Endorsements:
Numerous education, health, law enforcement and youth development organizations support SSIA, including the American Federation of Teachers, American School Health Association, Learning Disabilities Association of America, National Association of School Psychologists, National Down Syndrome Society, National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, American Association of University Women, Asian American Justice Center, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Human Rights Campaign and the Trevor Project.

Sen. Coons applauds the introduction of the House STRONGER Patents Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the introduction of the House version of the STRONGER Patents Act. Senator Coons introduced the STRONGER Patents Act in the Senate with U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) last year. 

“When Senator Cotton and I introduced the STRONGER Patents Act last year, the United States patent system was rated tenth in the world by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—the first time the U.S. was not rated first.  This year, the standing of the U.S. has fallen further to twelfth place.  We cannot let this slide continue, so I am excited that Congressmen Stivers and Foster have taken this wake-up call seriously and are introducing the STRONGER Patents Act in the House today.  This bill takes critical steps to shore up the U.S. patent system and ensure that patents continue to play their historic role of promoting innovation by incentivizing research and development.” 

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Senator Coons’ statement on legislative efforts to protect Special Counsel Mueller, future Special Counsels

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-author of the bipartisan Special Counsel Integrity Act, released the following statement regarding legislative efforts to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller and future Special Counsels from being removed without cause. 

“I understand that many of my colleagues don’t believe that President Trump will fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller without cause, and some have cited that as their reason for not backing the legislation I’ve introduced with Senator Tillis or the similar legislation written by Senators Booker and Graham,” said Senator Coons.  “Unfortunately, the statements and actions from the President and his lawyer over the weekend have led me to believe that the Special Counsel is now at real, immediate risk of being removed, and I believe the Senate needs to pass legislation to ensure that does not happen.  The improper removal of the Special Counsel is not in anyone’s interest, and the American people deserve nothing less than a full, objective report from the Special Counsel on his findings, no matter what those findings are.  

“Over the next week, before the Senate breaks for two weeks, I plan to speak individually with as many of my colleagues as possible to build support for this effort so we can move ahead.”

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: “This is a time when all of us, Republicans and Democrats, need to stand up and make it clear that we are committed to the rule of law.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined CNN New Day this morning to discuss President Trump’s recent attacks on Special Counsel Robert Mueller. 

“It’s hard to know exactly what direction the President is taking. But you just played a number of senior Republican leaders in the House and the Senate saying obstruction of Mueller’s investigation would be a red line, would create a constitutional crisis, would show that we are not a country where we are committed to the rule of law,”said Senator Coons. “I think this is a time when all of us, Republicans and Democrats, need to stand up and make it clear that we are committed to the rule of law. And for the President or his lawyer to even in jest talk about firing Mueller or ending his investigation is unacceptable.”

Full audio and video available here.

Excerpts from the interview: 

Sen. Coons on Special Counsel Mueller: Well, sadly, this is typical of a pattern we’ve seen with President Trump where he initially makes very strong statements. Recently about his commitment to gun control, his commitment to immigration reform, and then within a day or two, either a spokesperson walks it back or he issues a retraction. It’s hard to know exactly what direction the President is taking. But you just played a number of senior Republican leaders in the House and the Senate saying obstruction of Mueller’s investigation would be a red line, would create a constitutional crisis, would show that we are not a country where we are committed to the rule of law. There were other strong statements put out by Senator Lankford, Senator Rubio, Senator McCain. I think this is a time when all of us, Republicans and Democrats, need to stand up and make it clear that we are committed to the rule of law. And for the President or his lawyer to even in jest talk about firing Mueller or ending his investigation is unacceptable. 

More on Mueller: After the statements by the President on Twitter this weekend, I think that every Republican senator should be on one of these two bills. I think there is a consensus draft that we would like to move forward with. But if Chairman Grassley means what he has said in a recent statement that the Mueller investigation should be allowed to go forward without interference, the best way to signal our determination from the Senate to ensure that rule of law and to protect this particular Special Counsel and future Special Counsels would be for senators of both parties to join these bills. 

More on McCabe and Mueller: I do. We don’t know all the facts yet. The timing of the firing is somewhat suspect. Very late on a Friday evening just a day before he would be able to get his full retirement benefits after 20 years with the FBI. But there is an Inspector General report, we don’t know the contents of it. And I think it’s important for us to put to rest any questions about whether Andrew McCabe’s firing was actually part of an obstruction of justice pattern.  

More on McCabe: That’s part of our challenge here. It’s that with repeated attacks on the FBI at the most senior levels by our President we face a long-term degradation of the confidence in the rule of law in this country. The FBI has for decades now has enjoyed a very strong bipartisan reputation as being professional, nonpartisan, independent and I think that this current fact pattern where you’ve got the President going after senior leaders of the FBI publicly and repeatedly as well as senior leaders of the Department of Justice is undermining our confidence that this is an independent force that upholds the rule of law rather than supporting one party or another. 

More on McCabe: Well part of that depends on how the senators conduct themselves. The Judiciary Committee has been able to work well together on a number of important issues in the past. I respect our Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa, but I do think the way that our own investigation into obstruction on the Judiciary Committee has ground to a halt does raise those concerns.  

Sen. Coons on funding the government: Well, as an appropriator I’m optimistic that we will wrap up this omnibus bill by the end of the week. That we will not have another short-term CR, but there are dozens of issues, so-called riders, that came over from the House that we have not been able to get agreement to clear. So, part of what has happened, Erica, because we’re not legislating as often as we should or as in bipartisan of a way we should, is that folks try and stick big policy moves into must pass appropriations bills. We need to clear these riders and move ahead and fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. 

Sen. Coons on Facebook: Absolutely. We need to know more about how Cambridge Analytica got access to 50 million Americans private information from Facebook and what role that played in targeting voter suppression or voter engagement efforts by the Trump campaign or potentially by Russia.  

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Sens. Coons, Collins, Markey praise release of GAO technical assessment report in support of sustainable chemistry

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today praised the release of the GAO report entitled, “Technology Assessment: Chemical Innovation: Technologies to Make Processes and Products More Sustainable.”  GAO conducted this study in response to a request from Senators Coons, Collins, and Markey in May 2015.

In this report, GAO worked with stakeholders across the chemistry field, including from government, industry, and academia. They explored opportunities and challenges in sustainable chemistry and identified potential options to address challenges and realize the full potential of technologies. Their conclusions include the following:

• Breakthrough technologies in sustainable chemistry could transform how the industry thinks about performance, function, and synthesis. Sustainable chemistry creates opportunities to use a different conceptual framework that allows industry to create molecules with better performance. 

• The establishment of an organized constituency, with the involvement of both industry and government, could help make sustainable chemistry a priority. An industry consortium, working in partnership with a key supporter at the federal level, could lead to an effective national initiative or strategy.

• A national initiative that considers sustainable chemistry in a systematic manner could be useful. Such an effort could encourage collaborations among industry, academia and the government, similar to other national technology Initiatives.

• There are opportunities for the federal government to address industry-wide challenges. Federal attention that facilitates development of standard tools for assessment and a robust definition could help clarify relevant participants in the field and improve information available for decision-makers at all levels. 
• Transitioning toward the use of more sustainable chemistry technologies will require national leadership and industry, government, and other stakeholders to work together. 

 The full report can be accessed here.

 “I am thankful to GAO for their hard work on this technical assessment of the sustainable chemistry field,” said Senator Coons. “The information laid out in this report will be useful to the chemical industry, to universities and other research institutions, and to policy makers. It also underscores the importance of better federal coordination and support for sustainable chemistry, which is something I have legislatively supported in past congresses. I am proud to continue to champion sustainable chemistry as part of federal science policy.”

“Sustainable chemistry is an important scientific field that aims to improve the efficiency of the chemical production process while reducing risks to human health and the environment,” said Senator Collins.  “This report identifies a number of opportunities for the federal government to support sustainable chemical technologies and encourage the development of innovative, environmentally friendly, and economically competitive chemicals, products, and processes.”

 “In the 21^st century, the saying should be: Better living through sustainable chemistry,” said Senator Markey. “The GAO’s technical assessment of sustainable chemistry has offered clear insight into ways this field can be used to improve energy efficiency, decrease use of hazardous chemicals, and protect human health and the environment. The report also highlights the important role the federal government can play in better coordinating and supporting the use of sustainable chemistry throughout the entire life cycle of a product.”

“In providing input for this report, the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) emphasized the enormous innovation and market potential of sustainable chemistry technologies,” said Dr. Joel Tickner, GC3 Director. “Our GC3 members represent the entire value chain from chemical producers to consumer products companies to major retailers – all could benefit from a coordinated, augmented Federal commitment to support sustainable chemistry research, products, and processes.”

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Corker, Coons Introduce Food for Peace Modernization Act of 2018

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize U.S. global food assistance programs as part of the 2018 farm bill. The Food for Peace Modernization Act of 2018 (FPMA) proposes greater efficiencies in the Food for Peace program so the U.S. can free up as much as $275 million to provide life-saving food to nearly 9 million more people in a shorter time period. U.S. Representatives Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced companion legislation today in the House of Representatives. 

“We currently spend 30 cents on the dollar for actual food in the Food for Peace program. At no extra taxpayer expense, we can put more food into food aid and have it arrive months faster to feed millions of additional starving people without lessening the critical role of American farmers,” said Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “This bill is a win for everyone involved. We have made substantial progress in recent years in building support among stakeholders for these reforms, including support from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The farm bill provides the opportunity to more fully modernize our food aid efforts when there is enormous need around the world, and I am hopeful with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate that we will be successful.” 

“The United States government and American farmers have a proud history of supporting food security around the world through the Food for Peace Program,” said Coons, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “That history continues to this very day.  At a time when more than 800 million people around the world are experiencing hunger, we need to take steps to ensure that this program is as efficient as possible. I am excited to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will increase the flexibility of U.S. food aid, allow us to reach more people with life-saving assistance, and stretch taxpayer dollars further while still maintaining the vital role of farmers in our food aid program. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass these reforms into law.”

Around the world today, 75 million people are at risk of starvation and 800 million people are in need of food aid, and yet only 30 percent of Food for Peace funding pays for food. The remaining 70 percent accounts for overhead and transportation costs from inefficiencies required in existing law. FPMA would amend current food aid authorities in the farm bill to deliver more food faster to those in need around the world while maintaining an important role for U.S. farmers. 

FPMA contains the following key provisions. 

More Cost Effective Procurement: Current law requires 100 percent of food aid commodities be produced in the United States regardless of the additional expense and delays to reach vulnerable populations. This results in only 30 percent of program funds being used for actual food while the rest is diverted to overhead expenses such as overseas and overland shipping costs. FPMA would reduce the U.S. commodity preference to 25 percent of food aid, permitting the remaining 75 percent to be sourced from locally or regionally procured (LRP) commodities, vouchers, and debit cards to buy food in local markets —whichever is the most cost effective option. As a result of a LRP pilot project, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) found that using LRP commodities allows the U.S. to feed more people, more quickly and at a lower cost. Since U.S. food aid represents just 0.2 percent of total U.S. agricultural output, the flexibility in the commodity preference would allow the U.S. to help millions more people at no significant loss for American farmers.

Eliminate Monetization: Current law requires 15 percent of all U.S. donated food to be sold first by aid organizations, producing cash that then funds development projects. GAO has warned this process – known as “monetization” – is “inefficient and can cause adverse market impacts” in recipient countries. GAO also found monetization loses an average of 25 cents on every taxpayer dollar spent. According to USAID, eliminating monetization could feed an additional 800,000 people and free up an estimated $30 million per year. The legislation would lift the 15 percent requirement.

As leading advocates for improving U.S. international food aid delivery, Corker and Coons recently joined American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duval in an op-ed that explains how American farmers and U.S. commodities will continue to play an integral role in any reform effort. Last year, the senators visited the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda where they witnessed the enormous scale of the global food crisis gripping tens of millions of people, many of them children, in conflicts from Africa to the Middle East.

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Senator Coons applauds Trump Administration sanctions against Russian individuals, organizations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applauded the Trump Administration for sanctioning Russian individuals and organizations for attacking U.S. elections and other cyberattacks.

“There is no question that Russia attacked our election in 2016 and will continue to launch cyberattacks against the United States unless they are deterred, so I applaud the Trump Administration for identifying Russia’s hostile actions and punishing them for it.  This is a positive, important step. I hope to see more designations under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) and a comprehensive strategy to push back against all forms of Russian aggression in the near future.”

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Carper, Coons’ judicial candidates receive support of Senate Judiciary Committee, will proceed to Senate floor

WILMINGTON, DE. – WILMINGTON, DE – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons announced today that the nominees they recommended for judgeships on the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Maryellen Noreika and Colm F. Connolly, have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Their nominations will proceed to a Senate confirmation vote in the coming months.

“Colm and Maryellen both have a wide breadth of knowledge, many years of experience and the respect of their peers in the judicial system,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “I look forward to them swiftly moving to confirmation so they can hit the ground running.”

“This is great news for Delaware’s federal courts as we become one step closer to having a filled bench,” said Sen. Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “As seen in their committee hearings, Colm Connolly and Maryellen Noreika are talented, capable jurists, and I’m glad we’re able to progress to this point.”

Ms. Noreika has practiced law in Delaware for nearly 24 years at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, in Wilmington, where she is a partner and represents plaintiffs, defendants, individuals, and companies large and small. She focuses on intellectual property matters and complex litigation in federal courts. Ms. Noreika has been appointed to multiple advisory committees assisting the court and has served as a mentor for young attorneys in a federal judges training program. She has a B.S. in Biology from Lehigh University, an M.S. in Biology from Colombia University and a J.D. from University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Connolly is a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, in Wilmington, where he is a member of the litigation and intellectual property groups. He served as the United States Attorney from 2001 to 2009, during which he established the Delaware Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council consisting of 25 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate training and the collection and dissemination of intelligence information. Connolly was previously an Assistant U.S. Attorney and a partner at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP. He has a B.A. in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Political Philosophy from the London School of Economics, and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

Two of Sen. Coons’ bipartisan small business bills move forward

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Small Business Committee voted to advance two bipartisan bills written by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.). The Support Startup Businesses Act (S. 2419), authored by Senators Coons and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), would allow awardees of federal research and development grants to use a portion of that funding to create a startup business.  The Microloan Modernization Act of 2017 (S. 526), authored by Senators Coons and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), would strengthen the SBA Microloan program by allowing microloan intermediates to make more affordable loans to eligible small businesses. 

“It’s true that Congress is divided, and compromise between the parties has become more elusive, but Delawareans sent me to the Senate to work across the aisle and get things done for our economy, and today, we’re taking an important step forward on two, bipartisan bills that will do just that,” said Senator Coons. “The bills I’ve authored with my Republican colleagues, Senators Gardner and Fischer, are common sense efforts to help businesses grow in their critical early stages and help businesses across the country get the capital they need to expand and succeed” 

Specifically, the Support Startup Businesses Act authorizes Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awardees to allocate up to $50,000 of their awards for activities that are critical to building businesses, including services such as market validation, intellectual property protection, market research, and business model development. Currently, the SBIR program offers very limited financial support to awardees for commercialization activities.

Read more about the Support Startup Businesses Act here: https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bipartisan-bill-from-sens-coons-gardner-supports-startup-businesses

The Microloan Modernization Act  increases the maximum amount of loans outstanding to a microloan intermediary from $5 million to $6 million. It also requires SBA to write a report on intermediary participation in the program and requires GAO to write a report on oversight of the program.

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Senator Coons discusses gun violence with Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS teacher and parent, FBI, ATF officials

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses in the “See Something, Say Something: Oversight of the Parkland Shooting and Legislative Proposals to Improve School Safety” in today’s hearing.  In the first panel, Sen. Coons questioned Acting Deputy Director of the FBI, Dave Bowdich, Acting Director of the ATF, Thomas Brandon, and Chief of the National Threat Assessment Center at the U.S. Secret Service, Lina Alathari. For video of the questions of this panel, click HERE.

Senator Coons concluded the first session by discussing the Toomey-Coons NICS Denial Notification Act, which would require federal authorities to alert state law enforcement within 24 hours when individuals “lie and try” to purchase firearms.

“The voices of students from across my state, from Parkland, and from all over our country are asking us to find responsible ways to work together,” Said Sen. Coons. “Virtually every one of my colleagues who I’ve been with us today have introduced bills that would tackle this problem from a wide range of areas. This strikes me as one of a dozen, whether it’s banning bump stocks, whether it’s limiting magazines, or whether it’s making sure that the NICS system and background checks are made universal and effective, we should be doing this in the interests of our communities our families and our children.”