Coons, Roberts, Kelly, Kind introduce bipartisan, bicameral bill to help startups and small businesses invest in research

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) as well as United States Congressmen Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ron Kind (D-WI) today introduced the Support Small Business R&D Act, legislation that will help startups and small businesses take advantage of the research and development (R&D) tax credit.

Specifically, the bill would require the Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service to partner to develop educational and training materials for entrepreneurs who invest in research and could be eligible to use the R&D credit to offset their expenses.  These materials would be provided to SBA programs around the country and business development entities that partner with SBA programs, such as universities, business accelerators, and business incubators.

At the end of 2015, Congress passed legislation that not only made the R&D credit permanent but also expanded the credit to allow more startups and small businesses to access it.  The inspiration to expand the credit was drawn from a proposal by Senators Coons and Roberts and Congressmen Kelly and Kind known as the Innovators Job Creation Act.  However, despite these changes to the credit, many small businesses do not have the information necessary to take advantage of this opportunity to offset their research costs.  The Support Small Business R&D Act is designed to address that knowledge gap.

“By including our proposal to expand the R&D credit to startups and small businesses in bipartisan tax legislation, Congress took a big step towards encouraging our small companies to innovate,” said Senator Coons.  “But our responsibility does not end now that this proposal is law.  I am proud to work with Senator Roberts to make sure that our startups and small businesses have the tools they need to take advantage of the R&D credit and continue to invest in advanced research.”

“The goal of the 2015 legislation is to make sure that small businesses and innovative startups, the major job creators in our economy, are able to easily access the R&D credit,” said Senator Roberts. “The R&D credit is complicated, so it is critical that small businesses and startups interested in the R&D credit have access to basic assistance from the Small Business Administration and the IRS to put them on the right track to claiming the credit. The bill we introduce today directs the federal government – at no new cost to taxpayers – to help our job creators to utilize the R&D credit, which will provide long-term benefit to the economy.”

“Small businesses are the most important innovators in our economy.  They produce 16 times more patents per employee than their larger counterparts, and they employ more than half of America’s private sector workforce,”said Congressman Kelly. “Our legislation will help more innovative start-ups get off the ground, create new jobs, and produce new technologies. It’s a major win for American workers, small businesses, and the economy they make strong.”

“Currently, far too many of our Wisconsin small businesses are not aware of how to access the Research and Development tax credits that would help them expand and create more jobs. By increasing education and information about the Research and Development tax credit to Wisconsin small businesses, we can help level the playing field for our small businesses,” said Congressman Kind. “Wisconsin small businesses are the economic drivers in our local communities, and we need to work together to pursue commonsense policies, like the Support Small Business R&D Act, which help our businesses grow and create jobs.”

“Congress passed important legislation in 2015 that gave startups and small business access to the R&D tax credit, “said Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D, MBA, President and CEO, University City Science Center. “Raising awareness in the startup community is the next step, and the Support Small Business R&D Act accomplishes that. Senators Coons and Robert’s legislation will help ensure that startups are informed about the important changes and benefits of the R&D credit by encouraging the SBA and IRS to better educate companies, in partnership with business incubators like the Science Center. The economy of the Delaware Valley stands to benefit from the Support Small Business R&D Act.”

“Recent changes to the R&D tax credit greatly expand access to the credit for new businesses, but not nearly enough of them are aware of this; ITIF endorses the Support Small Business R&D Act, proposed by Sens. Coons and Roberts, which would require the Small Business Administration and IRS to expand knowledge sharing and training on these instruments, and provide a report to Congress of their progress,” said Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, President, ITIF.

“New business starts are the driver of the U.S. economy. Recent research found that not only are new businesses the primary source of net new jobs, but also factor significantly into increased productivity, wage growth and ultimately advances in standard of living,” said Jason Wiens, Policy Director, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. “With entrepreneurs focused on building successful companies and creating jobs, it shouldn’t be a surprise that many entrepreneurs are unaware of government resources made available to them or how to benefit from this assistance. More needs to be done to educate founders and small business owners about all the ways government is trying to help.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Small Business Committee and the Ranking Member on the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Appropriations, which oversees funding for the SBA and IRS. Senator Coons is a strong advocate for policies to encourage innovation and has long been a champion of the R&D tax credit as a key incentive for investment in advanced research.  Details about his work on the R&D tax credit can be found on his website here.

Senator Coons cosponsors bicameral Healthy Families Act to allow workers to earn paid sick days

Wilmington, DE – Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), reintroduced the bicameral Healthy Families Act today, legislation that would allow workers to earn paid sick leave to use when they are sick, to care for a loved one, to obtain preventative care, or to address the impacts of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.

“No one should have to fear losing their job in order to take care of a sick child or family member,” said Sen. Coons. “Some 41 million people across our country would benefit by giving them access to paid sick days through the Healthy Families Act, including many in Delaware. The benefits of paid sick days are being seen in seven states and more than 30 counties across the country and it makes sense to match up protection for working families to ensure they are able to care for themselves and loved ones when they need it the most.”

“The Healthy Families Act would put an end to the days when access to paid sick time depends on where people live or the jobs they hold,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “It is a comprehensive, tested plan that would guarantee workers the designated paid sick time they need to meet their health and financial needs while boosting businesses’ productivity and retention, and strengthening our economy.”

Today, 41 million private sector workers do not have access to paid sick days. The Healthy Families Act would allow worker at businesses with at least 15 employees to earn up to 56 hours, or seven days, of paid sick leave each year. This would allow workers to stay home when they are ill, to care for a sick family member, seek preventive medical care, or seek assistance related to domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.

Businesses that already provide paid sick leave would not have to change their current policies, as long as they meet the minimum standards of the Healthy Families Act.

Studies show that sick paid leave can reduce the spread of contagious diseases like the flu and a national paid sick day policy would reduce emergency room visits by 1.3 million annually, saving $1.1 billion a year.

Original Senate cosponsors include Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN), Jeffery A. Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Charles Schumer (D-NY).

See below for more information on the Healthy Families Act.

FACT SHEET: The Healthy Families Act

Today, 41 million private-sector workers do not have access to paid sick days. That forces many Americans to make the difficult choice of losing a day’s pay – and in some cases losing their job – or showing up to work sick and potentially spreading an  illness to others. Even when workers have personal sick days, those might not cover the times when a child is ill and needs to stay home from school. That forces many parents to make the impossible choice of caring for their family or risking their livelihood.

The Healthy Families Act would allow workers to earn up to seven paid sick days a year to care for a family member and to address personal medical needs. This legislation will help workers and increase economic security, while taking an important step toward making sure our economy works for all families, not just the wealthiest few.

The Act will help families care for their loved ones and themselves.

• Under this legislation, workers can earn up to 56 hours (seven days) of paid sick time. Workers earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.
• Workers can use this time to stay home and get well when they are ill, to care for a sick family member, to seek routine medical care, or seek assistance related to domestic violence.

Access to paid sick days will help protect public health.

• Workers earning low wages are the least likely to have paid sick days, and are often unable to afford to take a day off when they are ill. This can pose public health risks because many low-wage jobs require interaction with the public, for example, caring for seniors or children, working in stores and hotels, or serving or preparing food in restaurants.
• Research has shown that paid sick days can reduce the spread of contagious illnesses like the flu, reduce occupational injuries, result in more preventive cancer screenings and other preventive care, and reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency room. For example, the American Journal of Public Health found that the lack of paid sick days contributed to an additional 5,000,000 cases of influenza-like illness during the H1N1 pandemic of 2009.

Expanding access to paid sick days will help families, businesses, and the economy.

• According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, if all workers had access to paid sick days, emergency room visits would decline by 1.3 million visits a year, saving $1.1 billion annually. More than half of those savings would be to public health insurance programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• Nearly 20 states and localities have adopted policies that allow workers to earn paid sick days, including San Francisco, Seattle, and Connecticut, without posing adverse effects on businesses and the economy. Many employers in these localities expressed strong support for paid sick leave policies.

The Healthy Families Act provides important protections for workers and public health in a way that works for employers.

• Small employers with fewer than 15 employees would not be required to provide paid sick days.
• Employers that already provide this leave will not have to change their current policies, as long as their existing leave can be used for the same purposes described in the Act.
• Employers can require workers to provide documentation supporting any request for leave longer than three consecutive days.

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Coons, Stabenow, Rubio, Nelson introduce bipartisan bill to improve bankruptcy court system

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) today introduced The Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017. This legislation would ensure that individuals and corporations have access to well-functioning bankruptcy courts even when temporary judgeships expire.

“A functioning bankruptcy court system is essential to our nation’s economy. At a time when both individuals and corporations need to access the resources of bankruptcy courts, Congress must act to extend bankruptcy judgeships in judicial districts where they are most needed,” said Senator Coons. “Talented bankruptcy judges can help turn a likely economic loss into a successful reorganization that protects jobs and creditors. This legislation will ensure that these judgeships remain in place and courts can continue to fairly and expeditiously resolve bankruptcy claims — a key component of our economy as companies and individuals get back on their feet. This bill will ensure that when bankruptcy judges on courts with temporary judgeships retire, their colleagues will not be left with crushing caseloads that restrict timely access to our bankruptcy courts.”

“Federal bankruptcy laws make it possible for individuals and businesses to reorganize their debts, but a significant impediment to a well-functioning system has been Congress’ failure to appropriately authorize judgeships as recommended by the nonpartisan Judicial Conference of the United States,” said Senator Rubio. “This legislation will implement recommendations from the Judicial Conference that will help ensure more manageable caseloads across the country—including in Florida and Puerto Rico—and ultimately a more efficient system.”

ICYMI: Coons oped in The News Journal: ‘Making Progress in American Manufacturing’

WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) authored an oped in The News Journal on the importance of growing and strengthening U.S. manufacturing.

Read the full oped below:

The News Journal: Making Progress in American Manufacturing

By Chris Coons

Editor’s note: The following column is based on a speech Senator Coons delivered on March 1, 2017 at a joint event of the Senate Competitiveness Caucus and House Manufacturing Caucus on the importance of the Manufacturing USA Institute network. It has been edited by Senator Coons’ staff for clarity. 

Last December, the University of Delaware received a $70 million federal grant to build and sustain an institution focused on manufacturing biopharmaceuticals. The award, the largest single grant in UD history, will be matched more than two-to-one with outside investments, further enhancing its impact. This Newark-based hub is part of a nationwide network for manufacturing innovation known as Manufacturing USA. But what exactly are the Manufacturing USA Institutes that make up this network, what do they do, and why are they such an important part of a winning strategy for growing and strengthening manufacturing in the United States?

First, these institutes bring leading private, public, nonprofit, and academic organizations together to focus on technologies that are changing the way that we work and live. These technologies include, for example, digital manufacturing and design, advanced composites, additive manufacturing (often known as 3D printing), and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. These are exciting, emerging fields that have enormous promise and will drive innovation in critical sectors, creating more high-skill, high-wage, middle class jobs, improving our responses to life-threatening diseases, and advancing our national security.

Second, Manufacturing USA institutes enjoy bipartisan support because they’re bottom-up, not top-down. They’re defined and driven by industry needs — not by government decisions. They bring hundreds of millions of dollars in private sector and other matching funds, often over-matching the federal investment 2:1 or even 3:1.

And third, Manufacturing USA works because the government plays a key but limited role as a catalyst. The government can leverage resources and investments in community colleges, major research universities, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, economic development entities, and other centers of expertise.

Government is removing barriers for the growth of these technologies, convening stakeholders with common interests and needs, and taking steps to facilitate their rapid development and deployment. Industry drives the research and development agenda and invests significantly, leading to outcomes that could not be achieved if companies acted alone.

For instance, a composites institute in Tennessee is working with industry to produce pioneering processes that will use carbon fiber and other advanced materials to improve vehicle fuel economy and reduce emissions. A digital manufacturing institute in Chicago is accelerating development of a high-powered, ultra-flexible LED light by providing test facilities and coaching entrepreneurs.

As a Delawarean, I’m most excited about the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, better known as NIIMBL, because it’s led by the University of Delaware. Biopharma manufacturing is a rapidly growing industry, representing about $790 billion of economic activity and employing 850,000 people in the U.S. in high-wage, high-value manufacturing jobs. It is one of the most R&D-intensive sectors in the world. It represents a huge opportunity for American businesses, but other countries are investing significantly in the manufacturing side of biopharma.

We’ve faced intense competition before. Across a range of sectors, the United States continues to innovate and develop cutting-edge technologies, yet our place as the world leader in manufacturing the technologies we invent is at risk. Take the smartphones that many of us have in our pockets. Most of the “guts” of that phone were invented and developed in the United States but are now manufactured elsewhere.

Delaware’s NIIMBL and institutes like it exist as a way for us to retain and regain our manufacturing leadership. Biopharmaceutical production, in which living cells produce the treatments or their components, requires a complex manufacturing process. Biomanufacturing is used to produce many widely-used treatments for a growing number of health conditions such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Innovation is needed to foster collaborative technology development, allow more rapid and flexible production, reduce risk for individual companies, and lower barriers for small and medium-sized companies to meet healthcare demands and ensure U.S. leadership in the industry.

The vision for NIIMBL came to life because of Dr. Kelvin Lee, the Institute’s director and a professor at the University of Delaware, and a great team that includes world-renowned partners in twenty-five states. There also is significant private sector investment expected from industry leaders such as Amgen, Biogen, Agilent, Corning, Celgene, GE, and others.

The strategy represented by NIIMBL and the other Manufacturing USA Institutes came from leaders like Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow, and Susan Hockfield, President of MIT, who convened some of the best minds in the nation. When I first entered the Senate six years ago, Liveris discussed this approach with a number of us. His proposal led to the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act, a bipartisan bill that advanced through Congress and was signed into law with my strong support. The RAMI Act created these Manufacturing USA Institutes, which have subsequently received funding from Congress through various federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Commerce. Several of us worked in the Appropriations Committee to provide significant, sustained funding. Since then, a series of competitions and awards have led to the fourteen Manufacturing USA Institutes we have today.

Where do we go from here? Sustained investment and engagement are critical if we want cutting-edge innovations, technologies, and products to be researched, developed, and manufactured in the United States over the long term. Congress has to follow the lead of our private sector partners by prioritizing continuous investment and improvement. Other nations invest significantly in these technologies because their economic growth and living standards depend on it. That’s why we need the support of the American people to push our nation into the next phase as a global leader in manufacturing.

Chris Coons has represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate since 2010.

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ICYMI: Sen. Coons authors letter in The Economist advocating for continued progress on clean energy

WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) authored a letter in The Economist on the importance of clean energy investments, good market design, and a price on carbon. Sen. Coons wrote this letter in response to a story entitled, “Clean energy’s dirty secret: Wind and solar power are disrupting electricity systems.” 

Read the full letter below:

The Economist: Letters to the editor, renewing energy markets

You made plain in your piece that challenges remain when it comes to renewables and the power sector. Yet all fuels and energy technologies received public support early in their development, and many have continued to benefit from favorable policies well after becoming commercially viable. The International Energy Agency has estimated that global subsidies for fossil fuel consumption in 2014 neared half a trillion dollars, more than quadruple the subsidies to renewables. Annual average subsidies to fossil fuels are still more than 13 times what is provided for renewables, and indirect subsidies are also large, though more difficult to track.

Use of renewable power has increased tremendously over the past decade, led in many cases by the private sector, while the economy has grown and emissions have fallen. Subsidies have played a role, but so have falling costs driven by advances in technology and manufacturing, new business models, and consumer demand. As you noted, further technological advances such as digitalisation, storage, and more distributed energy systems can help ease the transition while providing other benefits. But as you highlighted, growing demand for new technology and services will only further strain the current system. 

Additionally, leaving market design as it stands in the face of growing demand for new sources of power is the ultimate government subsidy to incumbent fuels and technologies. Existing industries will seek protection from new technologies and ways of doing business. Markets have tremendous power to direct resources efficiently, but we must design them to match new technological, political, and business realities. As this newspaper has long argued, only by pricing carbon emissions in a way that accurately reflects the impacts of traditional energy will markets effectively manage externalities in energy production and consumption.

This disruption in electricity systems is no reason for governments to stop supporting renewables. A recent National Academy of Sciences report observed that public investments can play an important role in establishing industries, but work best when they are performance- or outcome-oriented. Similarly, markets with bidirectional incentives would support further innovation and value creation without creating new market distortions. It also noted the importance of establishing appropriate pollution prices to help establish a level playing field and consistent market.

Now is the time for good policies and well-constructed markets to provide incentives to continue a transition to clean energy. Public subsidies for clean energy are addictive, just as they have been for oil and natural gas. But beating that addiction requires properly structured markets and investments that level the playing field for all sources of electricity and reflect their true environmental and public health costs. State and federal policymakers must work closely with the private sector to craft market solutions that fit this emerging reality. 

CHRIS COONS

U.S. Senator

Wilmington, Delaware

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ICYMI: Sen. Coons, bipartisan colleagues pass The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvement Act in Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about legislation that he co-sponsored, entitled The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvement Act, which was passed by the Committee.

“This legislation ensures that we honor and fulfill our promise to take care of the husbands, wives, sons, and daughters whose loved ones were killed or permanently disabled protecting us. This bill will improve the program by adding transparency, collecting more data about the PSOB program, and reporting that information to Congress. It will also give greater weight to the determinations of state and local agencies that investigate an incident and assess an officer’s cause of death or injury. It is my hope that these improved procedures will expedite the payment of qualified claims so families who have sacrificed so much receive their benefits more quickly.

“It is critical that we do all that we can to help public safety officers and their families through the PSOB program. This bipartisan bill will support this important program and honor those who give so much for our safety.”

Full video and audio of the Senator’s remarks available here.

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Senator Coons’ statement on the nomination of David Friedman

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement concerning the Committee vote on the nomination of Mr. David Friedman to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel:

“David Friedman is a well-respected bankruptcy lawyer whose deep relationships in Israel and the United States will serve him well should he be confirmed. I do not question his love for Israel or the United States. I also recognize that Mr. Friedman apologized for his many controversial statements, and I respect that he presented a more moderate perspective at his confirmation hearing. I value this sincere contrition and effort towards atonement.

“However, like many Delawareans, including leading members of the Delaware rabbinical community, I am concerned that his previous inflammatory rhetoric would prevent him from representing faithfully all members of the American Jewish community and all Americans committed to the longstanding U.S. objective of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. Therefore, I will vote against his nomination to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel. 

“The alliance with Israel is one of America’s most important international partnerships. The Israeli people and the American Jewish community deserve the bipartisan support of the U.S. Congress, and I will continue to seek opportunities to maintain that support throughout the Trump administration. I do not believe Mr. Friedman will be able to earn, or keep, the broad confidence of the American or Israeli people, which is vital to bring together all sides of the impassioned debates in the United States and Israel.

“Moreover, given President Trump’s lack of experience in foreign affairs, Mr. Friedman will likely be more than a mere implementer of the administration’s policies towards Israel and the broader Middle East. I deeply worry that his policy views differ from the majority of Jewish Americans and are not what this moment in U.S.-Israel relations calls for. Should Mr. Friedman be confirmed, I hope he moderates his tone and approach to U.S.-Israel relations. He must, if the United States seeks to play a constructive role defending Israel and promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”

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[VIDEO] Senator Coons on Trump-Russia ties: “This isn’t about partisan politics, it’s about defending our democracy”

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Judiciary Committees, today joined Fox & Friends to discuss recent developments in the investigation into Russian interference in our 2016 presidential election.

“Well, first, the Senate Intelligence Committee is getting access to the raw intelligence and transcripts of those intercepts that I was referring to last Friday. And, if you just listen closely to the clip you just played, it makes clear what I was saying: that there is intelligence that will provide insights into whether or not there was some collusion between senior elements of the Trump campaign and the Trump administration and Russian intelligence and Russian officials,” said Senator Coons. “What I was trying to point to there was that we need to get to the bottom of this—this isn’t about partisan politics, it’s about defending our democracy.”

“But, I also think there shouldn’t be a cover-up. In the best interest of our country, we need to get to the bottom of this,” said Senator Coons. “That is why I was encouraged yesterday that the man who’s the nominee to be number two in the Justice Department—who, now that Attorney General Sessions has recused himself, will take over the direction of this—did insist on a free and fair investigation.”

Full audio and video available here.

Excerpts from the interview:

Senator Coons on the investigation into Russian interference: “Well, first, the Senate Intelligence Committee is getting access to the raw intelligence and transcripts of those intercepts that I was referring to last Friday. And, if you just listen closely to the clip you just played, it makes clear what I was saying: that there is intelligence that will provide insights into whether or not there was some collusion between senior elements of the Trump campaign and the Trump administration and Russian intelligence and Russian officials. What I was trying to point to right there was that we need to get to the bottom of this—this isn’t about partisan politics, it’s about defending our democracy. We had a hearing yesterday on the State and Foreign Ops. subcommittee of Approps., a subcommittee that is critically responsible for our support for our NATO allies and democracy in Western Europe, and we are going to have a joint Republican and Democrat speech on the floor later today about the importance of pushing back against Russian aggression.”

Senator Coons on James Clapper’s comments: “Well, that’s one person’s perspective and that’s an important insight. What I said on Friday, and what I will say again today, is that we need to get to the bottom of this, we need a thorough, fair, straightforward investigation where we get a report back in Congress about what Republicans and Democrats on the Intelligence Committee have found after they’ve had a chance to review all the evidence.”

Senator Coons on accusations of partisanship in this investigation: “Well, I think it’s inaccurate to say that the National Security Council is filled with partisans. I think the National Security Council has proven itself over several administrations to be overwhelmingly full of career professionals who are providing the best support and analysis they can to the President. I also would just point out that there are several different sources of intelligence — the FBI, the NSA, the CIA, and several others — and one of the things that’s undeniable here is that the entire American intelligence community concluded that Russia did interfere in our last election, and I think it’s in the best interest of our democracy to make sure that we take this seriously and that we take prompt action on a bipartisan basis against that intrusion into our election.”

Senator Coons on whether he’ll push back if an investigation becomes too partisan: “If I think this has turned into nothing more than a witch hunt and there’s no basis in reality for it, that is the position I would take. You know me. But, I also think there shouldn’t be a cover-up. In the best interest of our country, we need to get to the bottom of this. That is why I was encouraged yesterday that the man who’s the nominee to be number two in the Justice Department—who, now that Attorney General Sessions has recused himself, will take over the direction of this—did insist on a free and fair investigation.”

Sens. Carper, Coons join colleagues in introducing bill to block President Trump’s re-issued travel ban

WASHINGTON – After President Donald Trump re-issued his harmful restriction on refugees and immigrants from six Muslim-majority nations in Africa and the Middle East, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today joined 14 of their colleagues in introducing legislation to reverse the executive order and block its implementation. Specifically, the bill would withhold funding to enforce the executive order. The bill also declares the executive order illegal based on the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which banned discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin.

“President Trump has once again moved to deny refuge to thousands of Syrians seeking asylum and ban immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries,” said Senator Carper. “This revised order stands to hurt families and businesses while also jeopardizing our national security and the diplomatic relationships we have with nations around the globe. I’ve joined with Senator Coons and a number of our colleagues to stop this order because categorically denying entry into our country to a group of people on the basis of their origin is uninformed policy that doesn’t make us any safer.”

“President Trump’s revised travel ban still discriminates against six Muslim-majority countries from which travelers, including refugees, do not pose a significant terrorist threat to the United States,” said Senator Coons. “This travel ban still makes us less safe by giving extremist groups a propaganda and recruiting tool. It still makes us less respected in the world by refusing to help our allies shoulder the burden of the refugee crisis. I am proud to join with Senator Carper and many of our colleagues to stop this order. We should see this executive order for what it is: a decision based in fear, not facts, to discriminate against people on the basis of their nationality and how they pray.”

Original cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

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Bipartisan, bicameral resolution introduced today celebrating AmeriCorps

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), along with U.S. Representatives David Price (D-NC-4) and Doris Matsui (D-CA-6), today introduced a resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of Americans in celebration of AmeriCorps Week 2017.  Over 80,000 Americans serve their communities, states, and the nation through AmeriCorps programs each year, totaling more than 1 million AmeriCorps alumni since the program’s founding in 1994.  These 1 million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.4 billion hours of service helping to tackle our nation’s most pressing problems and mobilizing more than 2.3 community volunteers. 

“Having created and run two AmeriCorps programs, I have seen firsthand AmeriCorps’ positive impact in Delaware and across the country,” said Senator Coons. “In addition to addressing critical community needs during their time of service, AmeriCorps members are undoubtedly left with a strong connection to their community after participating in the program and often pursue public service careers later in life. AmeriCorps provides an important conduit through which our citizens can become engaged in civic society, and I am proud to recognize that service during AmeriCorps Week 2017.”

“AmeriCorps has proven itself to be a worthwhile program for promoting volunteer work to improve communities,” said Senator Cochran.  “We’ve seen its benefits in Mississippi in our schools and during times of emergencies.” 

“AmeriCorps members provide indispensable services in communities across the country,” said Senator Shaheen. “New Hampshire has a strong tradition of volunteerism that is bolstered by the hard work and dedication of AmeriCorps members. I thank all AmeriCorps members for their commitment to serving our country and our communities. ” 

“Service projects supported by AmeriCorps represent our longtime tradition of helping a neighbor in need,” said Senator Wicker. “In Mississippi, we are no stranger to acts of volunteerism. Volunteer Mississippi and the AmeriCorps campus in Vicksburg are examples of how this national program can serve and unite communities throughout our state and across our country. No matter the challenges we face as Americans, we always find a way to make our country better.” 

Co-sponsors of the resolution include U.S. Senators Carper (D-DE), Boozman (R-AR), Bennet (D-CO), McCain (R-AZ), Durbin (D-IL), Moran (R-KS), Tester (D-MT), Blunt (R-MO), Hirono (D-HI), Baldwin (D-WI), Hassan (D-NH), Wyden (D-OR), Heinrich (D-NM), Duckworth (D-IL), Franken (D-MN), Whitehouse (D-RI), Merkley (D-OR), Markey (D-MA), Booker (D-NJ), Reed (D-RI), Warren (D-MA), Peters (D-MI), Van Hollen (D-MD), Manchin (D-WV), and Gillibrand (D-NY).  

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