Senator Coons pays tribute to Delaware fire service legend on Senate floor

Wilmington, DE – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), spoke on the Senate floor today to honor the life of firefighting legend Lou Amabili. Lou, a 70-year veteran with Hockessin Fire Company and the Delaware State Fire School passed away last Thursday and was remembered for his contributions to his hometown fire department, his service to the Delaware State Fire School and his national role of protecting firefighters.

Video of the floor speech can be viewed HERE and text below.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor a true Delawarean, one who dedicated the majority of his life in service to others.

Mr. Louis J. Amabili, the son of Italian immigrants, rose from volunteering at his local fire company to become one of the most important and trusted voices in the American fire service.

Lou passed away last Thursday, September 28, due to an illness.

Lou was a legend in the Delaware firefighting community, and especially in my hometown of Hockessin, Delaware.  Lou proudly served the Hockessin Fire Company for 70 years holding every position one could possibly hold – Chief Engineer, 1st and 2nd Assistant Chief, along with Vice President, President, President Emeritus, and Director.

He was regarded as a humble, down-to-earth, passionate and caring gentleman. He rarely sought the limelight, even as he was thrust into it. He could walk into any event, whether national conventions or local meetings, and know individuals’ names and make them feel like they were the most important person in the room.

Lou embodied the term “public servant.” He heard his calling to serve his community and understood it as his personal obligation.

There was no greater ally of firefighters in Delaware or across the country than Lou. His continued service of seven-plus decades set a high standard for dedication to Delaware’s fire service.

He was a giant in the fire service community and his decades of dedicated service are a testament to how much he cared about his calling and his neighbors.

I first met Lou in 2000 when I was county council president, and over my ten years in county government, Lou was a frequent source of powerful advice, encouragement and insight.

I always looked forward to seeing him at the annual Delaware Volunteer Firefighter Association luncheon where I was sure to get honest feedback about how things were going in Washington.

Lou gained national recognition in the fire service when President Richard Nixon appointed him to serve on the National Commission for Fire Prevention and Control in 1970, which produced the landmark report, “America Burning.” 

A graduate of Conrad High School and the University of Delaware with a degree in chemistry, he was appointed the first Director of the Delaware State Fire School in 1964 and served in that capacity through 1996. Upon his retirement, Governor, now Senator, Tom Carper signed a resolution naming the school the “Louis J. Amabili Fire Training Center.”

From 1973 to 1980, Lou served as President of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors; from 1978 to 1986, he served as a charter member of the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors. In addition, Lou served on the NFPA Board of Directors from 1980 to 1986 and was chairman of the Fire Department Instructors Conference in 1979 and 1980.

Widely respected by his colleagues, CFSI President William F. Jenaway said, “Throughout his entire career, Lou was fully committed to the health and safety of the men and women who have served in the fire service. He was always willing and eager to share his knowledge with both aspiring and veteran firefighters and cared deeply about preserving the fire service’s rich heritage. It was an honor to serve with him for many years on the CFSI Board of Directors. I valued his friendship as did my fellow board members. His contributions to our organization and to the nation’s fire service will preserve his legacy as a legendary leader for many years to come.”

While the fire service and the safety of his fellow firefighters was his passion, his family was his love. His wife of nearly 60 years, Carmella, was his constant companion as he travelled extensively to national conventions or speaking engagements. His daughter, Janice Amabili, his son, Louis J. Amabili Jr. and his wife, Bridget; his grandson, Louis J. Amabili III and his wife, Lacie; and his great grandchildren, Lyza and Silas, will be forever proud of his legacy of service to Hockessin, Delaware and to his country.

M. President, Lou was indeed an inspiration to generations of firefighters, not just in his home company of Hockessin but to all the firefighters of Delaware. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

Thank you, M. President. I yield the floor.

[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: Dreamers “are American in every sense that I understand it except for a legal status”

Sen. Coons discusses Delaware Dreamers studying at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University

Sen. Coons to Dreamers: “It is my hope that today we can send a message…that we support them and that it is possible for them to achieve the American dream.”

WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. 

“As you’ve heard from a number of senators on both sides of the aisle today, we really hope we will be able to find our way towards a resolution that addresses some of the unsettled issues here, that gives some certainty to you and many other Dreamers,” said Senator Coons. “I’ve been a sponsor of the Dream Act in the past and support it. It is my hope that we will find a way to negotiate a responsible compromise and embrace the moment here sooner rather than later and move forward and give predictability to folks who hope to and are already contributing to the United States and to our future.” 

Full video and audio of Senator Coons’ remarks and Q&A is available here.

Senator Coons’ remarks and Q&A, as delivered, are below:

Senator Coons: Thank you, Chairman Grassley, thank you for holding this hearing. I’d like to thank both panels of witnesses for your testimony before us today. I had the pleasure of visiting with a number of Dreamers from Delaware earlier this year, DACA recipients, who are American in every sense that I understand it except for a legal status. 

And, it is my hope that today we can send a message to some of the students who I had the opportunity to meet studying at Delaware State University or studying at the University of Delaware or studying elsewhere in my home state – Estephany Martinez-Gonzalez, who is working hard to become a police enforcement officer, law enforcement officer; Indira Islas, who wants to become a pediatric oncologist – that we support them and that it is possible for them to achieve the American dream. 

Ms. Rojas, I just wanted to congratulate you on your accomplishments and your dedication to serving others. How did your experience growing up as an undocumented immigrant in the United States influence your decision to become a physician?

Ms. Rojas: Well, being of low income and also not having, we had very limited access to health care, so my family and I struggled in terms of being able to see a doctor regularly. So, this is something that has been in my family that I saw and also in communities around me, just limited access to health care, and also as someone who is able, you know I’m fluent in Spanish, so I really connect with immigrant communities and other communities as well. I feel like I just want to be able to serve others so that people in communities are healthy and safe. So, I feel like it’s the values that my family instilled in me. To give back and to persevere is what really brought me to being a doctor and I only hope to be able to serve.

Senator Coons: Help me better understand, if you would, how your life has changed since the introduction of DACA and how your life has changed and the lives of others you’ve gotten to know through the pre-health Dreamers program have changed as a result of its current uncertainty. 

Ms. Rojas: So, in terms of the new announcement or from gaining DACA – would you clarify, at what point – how our lives have changed because of DACA or because of this announcement?

Senator Coons: Both.

Ms. Rojas: So, because of DACA, I can truly say in every sense, I came out of the shadows. I feared leaving my apartment and was always very frightened that maybe I was followed or just I lived with a lot of uncertainty day-to-day. And, also, in terms of my future, you know I was studying at UC Berkeley and always wanted to give back, and yet when I thought about my graduation, I wouldn’t have employment opportunities. Even while in Berkeley, there were internship programs and other programs where I wanted to apply to, but couldn’t because of my immigration status. So, for us, and so many others, it truly lifted us out of the shadows to be able to live almost-normal lives in terms of our day-to-day lives, but I think was an opportunity for us to participate in programs, gain access to job opportunities and also, for example, buying homes and other opportunities that were unreachable. These were things that I never dreamed of being able to achieve when I was in college and before then, so it completely changed our lives and turned us around and I’m so grateful today that I got my DACA. So, this announcement for me was really difficult to hear. It felt like everything that I had worked towards could just disappear in the blink of an eye, and I know for the pre-health Dreamers community, it’s so devastating. Now, people are wondering, should they apply to graduate programs anymore, being at a loss for hope and uncertainty that really is pervasive among me and the community that I know. So, it has been absolutely devastating – we don’t know what is going to happen and we are really looking towards Congress to find a solution. 

Senator Coons: Thank you, Ms. Rojas. As you’ve heard from a number of senators on both sides of the aisle today, we really hope we will be able to find our way towards a resolution that addresses some of the unsettled issues here, that gives some certainty to you and many other Dreamers. I’ve been a sponsor of the Dream Act in the past and support it. It is my hope that we will find a way to negotiate a responsible compromise and embrace the moment here sooner rather than later and move forward and give predictability to folks who hope to and are already contributing to the United States and to our future.

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Sen. Coons urges Supreme Court to end partisan gerrymandering

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on Gill v. Whitford.

“Partisan gerrymandering is dividing our communities, eroding the responsiveness of our democracy, and violating our most treasured civic values,” said Senator Coons. “Time and time again, the Supreme Court has declined to curtail partisan gerrymandering.  Today, as the Supreme Court considers whether or not partisan gerrymandering violates the Constitution in Gill v. Whitford, the Court has been given another opportunity to protect each citizen’s right to freely choose their representatives. It is my hope that the Supreme Court will finally take this opportunity to address partisan gerrymandering.” 

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Sens. Coons, Booker, Durbin introduce resolution reaffirming U.S.-Liberia relationship & calling for free, fair elections in October

WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced a resolution reaffirming the United States-Liberia partnership and calling for free, fair, and peaceful elections on October 10, 2017. 

The October elections are expected to lead to Liberia’s first transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another in over 70 years. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female president, will respect Liberia’s Constitution and step down after two terms as Liberia’s president. 

 “The United States has a strong and unique bond with the Liberian people over the course of a 200-year history together. The October elections are a critical step for sustaining democratic progress in Liberia,” said the Senators. “The people of Liberia have endured through the horrors of civil war and the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, but due to their resilience and the leadership of President Sirleaf, Liberia has become a force for democracy and stability in West Africa. The United States Congress remains committed to maintaining and fostering our enduring relationship with the people and the Government of Liberia.” 

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Sen. Coons’ statement on Trump Administration decision to slash refugee resettlement quota

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees, issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to significantly cut refugee resettlements.  

“I am deeply disappointed by the Trump Administration’s decision to cut refugee resettlement efforts to the lowest levels since our refugee resettlement program was established. The United States has a long history of resettling the world’s most vulnerable victims of conflict. Abdicating our leadership at a time when more than 65 million people are displaced worldwide will only serve to weaken our credibility with our allies and partners who are shouldering the burden of this crisis.

“In April, I traveled to the world’s largest refugee settlement in Uganda with Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Uganda is now hosting more than a million refugees who have fled the conflict and famine in South Sudan. This is just one of many conflicts forcing people out of their homes around the world. Our country has considerable resources and needs to do more to address the refugee crisis.

“The United States has in place thorough and detailed protocols to vet refugees seeking asylum. The Administration should focus on real threats to our national security instead of turning away innocent men, women, and children fleeing violence and persecution. I urge the Administration to reconsider this decision and restore refugee admissions to previous levels.” 

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Senator Coons’ statement on the passing of Louis J. Amabili

“There was no greater ally of firefighters in Delaware or across the country than Lou. His remarkable 70-plus years of service to Hockessin Fire Company and his more than thirty year leadership of the Delaware State Fire School set a high standard for dedication to Delaware’s fire service.  Lou was also an outstanding national leader, from his role on the landmark National Commission for Fire Prevention and Control in 1970 to his lengthy service on the NFPA board and the Congressional Fire Services Institute board.  

“Lou was a giant in the fire service, and his decades of dedicated service are a testament to how much he cared about his calling and his neighbors. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.  I first met Lou in 2000 when I was county council president, and over my ten years in county government Lou was a frequent source of powerful advice, encouragement and insight,” said Sen. Coons.

Governor Carney, Delaware delegation call on Trump Administration to ramp up relief efforts in Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Governor John Carney released the following joint statement regarding relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: 

“The devastation that has affected the lives of millions of Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is heartbreaking. These men, women and children may be thousands of miles away from Delaware, but they are our neighbors and we have a responsibility to help them recover and rebuild. The President has taken an important first step that temporarily makes it easier to ship aid and supplies to Puerto Rico, and we’re glad Congress has approved a first installment of disaster assistance, but there’s much more work to be done. 

“The Delaware National Guard has deployed troops and flown two dozen relief missions, but we are ready and willing to do more. We have more guard units specialized in communications, engineering, aviation, security, medical, and heavy truck driving that are ready and eager to assist the emergency response efforts.

“We are committed to doing everything in our power to help, but the Trump Administration has the critical responsibility of taking the lead and activating the full force of the federal government to help these people. It must start by issuing a full disaster declaration for the entire island of Puerto Rico to ensure they can make use of all the assistance our country can give.”

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Senators Carper, Coons join letter condemning Sec. DeVos’ decision to revoke sexual assault guidance

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos expressing extreme dismay with her decision to revoke guidance that directs schools on how to handle investigations of sexual assault and urging her to reverse course. Secretary DeVos’ decision has undermined the rights of sexual assault survivors and created chaos and confusion for schools.

“Your action on Friday shows a clear lack of concern for the many requests of survivors of sexual assault and members of Congress who have asked you to leave the previous guidance in place,” wrote the Senators. “Your new guidance is already creating uncertainty and chaos for schools and we ask that you immediately reinstate the previous guidance.”

Last Friday, Secretary DeVos rescinded Obama Administration guidance and issued new and confusing interim guidance, and while she indicated she will start a new rule-making process, she provided no timeline. Advocates warned this interim guidance could result in fewer survivors coming forward and may allow the campus sexual assault epidemic to be swept under the rug. This latest move is one more in a long list of troubling decisions surrounding student safety and civil rights Secretary DeVos has made, including appointing Candice Jackson as Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and advising the Office for Civil Rights to scale back systematic investigations that help combat the epidemic of campus sexual assault.

The letter, led by Senators Murray (D-WA), Casey (D-PA), Blumenthal (D-CT), Gillibrand (D-NY), and McCaskill (D-MO), 25 U.S. Senators signed the letter including Baldwin (D-WI), Franken (D-MN), Stabenow (D-MI), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Feinstein (D-CA), Leahy (D-VT), Hirono (D-HI), Cardin (D-MD), Shaheen (D-NH), Sanders (I-VT), Hassan (D-NH), Booker (D-NJ), Murphy (D-CT), Reed (D-RI), Warren (D-MA), Kaine (D-VA), Markey (D-MA), Harris (D-CA), Schatz (D-HI), Brown (D-OH), Wyden (D-OR), Schumer (D-NY), Bennet (D-CO), Cantwell (D-WA), and Peters (D-MI).

Full text of the letter below and PDF can be found HERE.

September 27, 2017

The Honorable Betsy DeVos
Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave. S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202

We are extremely disappointed that you have decided to rescind the 2011 and 2014 Department of Education (Department) guidance on sexual violence and sex-based discrimination protected by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Your action on Friday shows a clear lack of concern for the many requests of survivors of sexual assault and members of Congress who have asked you to leave the previous guidance in place. Your new guidance is already creating uncertainty and chaos for schools and we ask that you immediately reinstate the previous guidance.

Title IX states that “[n]o person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Rolling back the guidance does not eliminate existing legal obligations that schools have to comply with Title IX or the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act that were enacted as a part of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA). However, the guidance you issued creates confusion regarding compliance with the law. The VAWA regulations require that an institution of higher education’s policy must include the timelines for a disciplinary hearing and a process for extending those timeframes for good cause.[1] Meanwhile, the Q&A document issued last week indicates that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will make a case-by-case determination as to a school’s good faith efforts for a “fair, impartial investigation”[2] suggesting OCR will not be enforcing the requirement for a consistent policy.

Additionally, the new guidance allows schools to stop using the preponderance of evidence standard and to deny a complainant the right to an appeal.[3] It also limits schools’ ability to use interim measures to minimize the burden on the complainant.[4] Finally, the Q&A includes a change in policy that mediation will now be an acceptable form of resolving a complaint of sexual assault. This change is in direct contradiction to the 2001 guidance[5] even though the Dear Colleague Letter says the Department will continue to rely on the 2001 guidance to assess whether a school is in compliance with Title IX.[6]

If your goal is to produce new regulations rather than utilize guidance to inform stakeholders of their rights and obligations, it is incomprehensible that you would issue new, conflicting guidance as a part of that process. A commitment to the full and transparent process of a real rulemaking process would dictate that you pursue that process rather than creating uncertainty for schools, survivors and all stakeholders by issuing new guidance that, in fact, provides less guidance than was previously available and without a public notice and comment period. Furthermore, the Department’s actions creates a devastating lack of clarity for the ongoing investigations of 360 cases of sexual violence at 258 postsecondary schools.

We ask that you reinstate the previous guidance and make it clear that survivors’ voices will be heard throughout any rulemaking process you decide to pursue. We thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. 

Sens. Carper, Coons to Trump: We Must Do More For Puerto Rico and USVIs

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), led by Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), sent a letter with 35 of their Senate colleagues to President Trump to express deep concern about the situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

In the letter, the senators wrote, “We write to express deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  In Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria recently knocked out the entire island’s electric grid leaving at least 3.4 million Americans with no power, decimated countless structures, and claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals.  Hospitals have no running water or basic supplies, and 95% of cellphone structures are still inactive.  As a result, we still do not have an accurate assessment of the destruction.” 

“In the words of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, the people of Puerto Rico have been ‘essentially devastated.’ The United States Virgin Islands has also suffered catastrophic damage.  While they slowly begin their recovery, more help is needed.”

“At a time when there is not a second to lose and the health and well-being of millions of Americans in the U.S. territories depend on swift action, we have identified several areas where strong and decisive leadership is needed,” the letter continues.

The letter calls for eight specific actions to be undertaken by the Trump administration:

1. Calls on President Trump to issue a full Disaster Declaration for the entire island of Puerto Rico, which has yet to happen.  
2. Calls on President Trump to appoint a Special Assistant for Rebuilding, to coordinate the multi-faceted federal efforts for Puerto Rico across all departments and agencies.
3. Calls on President Trump to request more funding to assist Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program. 
4. Calls on President Trump to utilize all federal resources to restore power, including sending Department of Energy experts; 500 utility employees; 100 fuel trucks; and 200 generators. 
5. Calls on President Trump to send more Department of Defense assets: construction battalions to repair power and transportation infrastructure, command and control aircraft for air traffic control; helicopters for search and rescue; and 1,500 service members to provide disaster and humanitarian assistance.
6. Calls on President Trump to work with Congress to waive the local cost share requirement for FEMA public assistance disaster funding for all categories of FEMA public assistance.
7. Calls on President Trump to send assets and expertise from across the federal government to restore communications, including from Department of Commerce, FCC, Coast Guard, and DOD.
8. Calls on President Trump to ensure that FEMA, Coast Guard, and DOD work together effectively to restore all ports to working condition.

In addition to Cantwell, Nelson, and Schumer, the letter was also signed by Senators Markey (D-Mass.), Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), Carper (D-Del.), Hassan (D-N.H.), Bennet (D-Colo.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Hirono (D-Hawaii), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Shaheen (D-N.H.), Booker (D-N.J.), Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Heinrich (D-N.M.), Menendez (D-N.J.), Feinstein (D-Calif.), Murphy (D-Conn.), Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Coons (D-Del.), Kaine (D-Va.), Brown (D-Ohio), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Merkley (D-Ore.), Peters (D-Mich.), Wyden (D-Ore.), Casey (D-Pa.), King (I-Maine), Murray (D-Wash.), Cardin (D-Md.), Duckworth (D-Ill.), Stabenow (D-Mich.), Franken (D-Minn.), Harris (D-Calif.), and Leahy (Vt.).

The full letter can be found here. 

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: “Fixing and improving our health care system cannot be done on a partisan basis”

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) discussed health care on the Senate floor following the failure of the Senate Republicans’ latest proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“In my view, the Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans live healthier, safer, more secure lives. Repealing it and replacing it with one of the proposals in recent months would have been very harmful to millions of Americans. But, that doesn’t mean the ACA is perfect. There’s hard work to do. Compromise is needed on both sides. And I think the call that Senator McCain has issued to this chamber is one we should hear. So let’s work together. Let’s listen to our constituents. Let’s listen to faith leaders. Let’s listen to doctors and health care experts. Let’s do the hard work, and together improve, not tear down, our health care system.”

Full audio and video available here.

Senator Coons’ full remarks, as delivered are below:

M. President, yesterday we learned that, once again, my Republican colleagues do not have the votes to pass their latest effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act – even though the budget reconciliation process recurrently under only requires 50 votes, there are not 50 votes.

Many of my colleagues have spoken on this floor about the challenges, the problems, or the issues with the Graham-Cassidy bill, and we’ve also heard as a body from many organizations all over the country that represent Americans in health care—the American Medical Association, which speaks for America’s doctors, American Hospital Association, which speaks for our hospitals, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Cancer Society, and many other patient advocacy groups, and the AARP, which advocates for seniors—all have weighed in with the challenges of this legislation. 

But, rather than continuing to barrel down on that point, I’d like to just quote a colleague and hero of mine:

Senator John McCain said on this floor, “We should not be content to pass health care legislation on a party-line basis. The issue is too important, and too many lives are at risk, for us to leave the American people guessing from one election to the next whether and how they will acquire health insurance. A bill of this impact requires a bipartisan approach.”

Senator McCain also said, “I hope that in the months ahead, we can join with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to arrive at a compromise solution that is acceptable to most of us, and serves the interests of Americans as best we can.” 

M. President, Senator McCain is right. 

Fixing and improving our health care system cannot be done on a partisan basis – and when big bills have been attempted to turn into law on a narrow, party-line basis, the results are often not sustainable. That’s why we have work to do together because this issue of providing for America’s health care is too complex, too big, and too important for us to do with only one wing or only one party.

I was encouraged, as were many of my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, when Senators Alexander and Murray, the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Health and Education Committee, held several bipartisan hearings. They brought in governors, insurance commissioners, health care experts, physicians, hospital leaders from across the country to talk about what we need to do to short-term and long-term to stabilize the health care markets and to lay the foundation for improvements to the system.

So, let’s listen to Senator McCain. Let’s give that bipartisan effort another chance.  Let’s work together and do this the right way. 

M. President, I ride the train back and forth every day from Wilmington to Washington, and the Delawareans I speak to on the train, at the grocery store, and around my state are simply tired of Congress fighting endless partisan battles with their health care. 

And it’s not just frustrating to hear about on television – we know for a fact that uncertainty in the health care markets is causing premiums to go up for Americans all over the country. 

The CEO of Highmark, which is the sole provider of individual market health insurance in the ACA market in Delaware now, conveyed to me that half of the rate increase for this coming year was due to uncertainty about whether the Trump administration would continue to enforce the individual mandate, to make the CSR payments and other things that are part of the ACA.

So today, recognizing that the only way this gets fixed in such a closely divided and partisan Senate is if we work together, I’d like to commit again to my constituents and colleagues that I am willing to work together to find bipartisan solutions to our health care problems.

Let’s sit down together. Let’s bring in organizations like the AMA, the AARP, the American Cancer Society, and the American Hospital Association. Let’s listen, let’s listen to them, health care leaders, patient advocates, and, frankly, I think we should listen to the thousands of faith leaders from across the country as well. 

We’ve received letters, all of us as a body, letters from leaders of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Buddhist communities across our country. They jointly wrote a letter to Congress urging us to reject the Graham-Cassidy bill and immediately address urgent matters that are right in front of us. The next one is CHIP reauthorization. CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, covers nearly nine million low-income children, 17,000 in Delaware alone, and it’s going to expire.  

There are lots of federal health programs that expire at the end of this week: the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Community Health Center Fund, which provides access to cost-effective primary and preventive care for 26 million patients throughout the country, the Teaching Health Centers funding, the Special Diabetes Program. There is a whole list of health-related programs that expire at the end of this week.

So I think we need a sense of urgency. We need a sense of urgency for finding ways to work together in the short-term, to stabilize the market, to extend these programs like CHIP that have long enjoyed bipartisan support, and to begin the steps needed to show flexibility and compromise by both parties.

First, as I said, we have to stabilize the individual ACA marketplace.  Fortunately, we know how to do that. As I’ve mentioned, there have already been hearings where testimony was received from governors, insurance commissioners, and health care experts and they said the number one priority was funding the ACA’s cost-sharing reduction subsidies, or CSR payments.

Now, that’s something the Trump administration can do today. The administration can simply announce that they will continue to meet the law and continue those payments. And, at least in my state, that will reduce the rate of increase of individual insurance premiums by a significant percentage.

We can also work together to establish a reinsurance program, to support enrollment outreach activities, to enforce the individual mandate, all of this would translate to lower premiums. And, as I said, the president is already authorized under the ACA to take a few of these steps and stabilize the marketplace.

But, from there, we are going to have to find bipartisan ways that we can make this a more workable system. I’ve introduced legislation in the past to make the ACA small business tax credits more appropriately sized for the small businesses that I’ve heard from in Delaware, many of whom can’t afford the increased costs of the Affordable Care Act.

There are ways we can work together to reduce the reporting requirements, so they are less burdensome to employers. I introduced a bill on that in the last Congress and would welcome a chance to work with a Republican colleague to introduce and pass that legislation now. 

We could also look at ways to make the tax credits or the ways that subsidies are provided through the ACA both more affordable and more sustainable so that families who qualify aren’t caught in a situation where they qualify for tax credits but they are nowhere near enough to afford comprehensive health insurance.

We also have to take a hard, bipartisan look at what is driving up health care costs across this country. We aren’t just challenged with resolving issues around health insurance. We also have to find a bipartisan path towards addressing health care costs.

The bottom line to all of this, we must work together to return to regular order, to give these programs the stability and certainty they need to serve patients across the country and our constituents at home. 

In my view, the Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans live healthier, safer, more secure lives. Repealing it and replacing it with one of the proposals in recent months would have been very harmful to millions of Americans.

But, that doesn’t mean the ACA is perfect. There’s hard work to do. Compromise is needed on both sides. And I think the call that Senator McCain has issued to this chamber is one we should hear.

So let’s work together. Let’s listen to our constituents. Let’s listen to faith leaders. Let’s listen to doctors and health care experts. Let’s do the hard work, and together improve, not tear down, our health care system. 

Thank you. With that, I yield the floor. 

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