Senator Coons praises new Presidential actions to spur manufacturing innovation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), who leads the Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign in the Senate, praised President Obama’s announcement Tuesday of new initiatives to spur innovation in America’s manufacturing sector. Among the actions announced Tuesday is a new effort to help manufacturing entrepreneurs discover, access, and utilize the more than $5 billion worth of research, prototyping, and testing equipment and expertise included in more than 700 federal R&D facilities across the country.

“America’s best competitive advantage is our capacity to innovate,” Senator Coons said. “In today’s global economy, the nations that emerge as leaders in manufacturing will be the ones that invent new ways to make higher quality products more efficiently. American manufacturers are already investing heavily in critical research and development, but many small businesses simply don’t have the resources to pursue their inventions on their own. Our national laboratories are leading centers of research and discovery, and their equipment and expertise can help American entrepreneurs turn their ideas into products. The Administration’s actions today are an important step forward to allow American innovators to access the valuable tools available at our federal labs.”

A new initiative through www.Data.gov/research will provide, for the first time in one place, machine-readable data on the resources available at national labs and federal R&D facilities. These facilities, operated by agencies including DOE, NASA, and NIH, include cutting-edge research tools and together represent over $5 billion dollars of taxpayer investment. Over time, the website will expand to include more comprehensive data on other R&D assets available to manufacturing entrepreneurs, including federally funded intellectual property.

Senators Coons and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation in January to make the nation’s innovation pipeline more efficient and strengthen partnerships between national labs and the private sector. The America INNOVATES Act would modernize the United States’ national lab system through targeted reforms that will help labs partner with American businesses to translate more scientific discoveries into commercial breakthroughs. More on the bill here: http://1.usa.gov/1fx9Nni

Read more about the President’s executive actions here: http://1.usa.gov/SR3hlt

Judiciary Committee approves bill to save advocacy centers for victims of child abuse

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved bipartisan legislation Thursday to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers that serve child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 was introduced in December by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, and Senators Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

Though the success of these federal-state and public-private partnerships has earned them broad bipartisan support, Congressional authorization for Children’s Advocacy Centers lapsed in 2005, and the President’s last three proposed budgets have either zeroed out or significantly cut federal funding. In addition to reauthorizing the program, the VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 would strengthen accountability provisions and improve oversight of the program.

“We have a shared responsibility to protect our children from violence and abuse,” Senator Coons said. “Though we can’t prevent every tragedy, we can make sure that children and families have the resources they need to heal and obtain justice. Children’s Advocacy Centers bring all of these resources together under one roof for one mission – to serve justice for children. Demand for these services has only grown since the Victims of Child Abuse Act was enacted more than two decades ago. Children’s Advocacy Centers served close to 300,000 children last year and 1,000 communities still have no access to a center when a child is the victim of a serious crime. Reauthorization of this vital program is long overdue, and I’m grateful to my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for joining me to move this bill forward.”

“The Victims of Child Abuse Act funding received by the Children’s Advocacy Center of Delaware is critically important in our efforts to ensure that our CACs and our multidisciplinary team partners are able to provide the very best response possible when presented with allegations of child abuse,” said Randall E. Williams, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Delaware, Inc. “Our child victims deserve to receive the very best services available, and VOCAA funding has allowed our CACs and multidisciplinary team partners to receive the training, technical assistance, and support necessary to employ nationally recognized ‘best practices’ and ensure child victims are not further traumatized by the very systems designed to protect them.”

“Nothing is more important than protecting children,” said Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. “Children’s Advocacy Centers are on the front lines in the fight against predators. This funding will make our children safer.”

Children’s Advocacy Centers employ a multi-disciplinary team of trained professionals to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been victims of abuse. These interviews are designed to be admissible in court, preventing children from being re-traumatized by having to tell their stories multiple times. In 2013 alone, nearly 300,000 children were served at over 800 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the United States, with over 200,000 cases reporting sexual abuse. Their use in child abuse cases saved, on average, more than $1,000 per case in court, child protection, and investigative fees.

The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 would increase authorization levels for Children’s Advocacy Centers for the first time since VOCAA was enacted in 1990. Acknowledging current fiscal constraints, this moderate increase, from $20 million to $22.5 million, is still below an amount that would keep pace with inflation and population growth. The reauthorization would also strengthen the programs through enhanced accountability provisions, non-profit requirements, and limitations on conference expenditures.

Senator Coons has been an outspoken advocate for Delaware’s three Children’s Advocacy Centers. He visited the Wilmington Children’s Advocacy Center in October 2012 and the Dover Children’s Advocacy Center in April 2013. After the President’s proposed budget for FY15 cut support for Children’s Advocacy Centers by $8 million, Senator Coons led a successful effort to restore funding for the program in the Appropriations Committee’s annual funding bill for the Justice Department. The National Children’s Alliance honored Senator Coons at their annual conference last week for his efforts to sustain Children’s Advocacy Centers in Delaware and around the nation.

In addition to Senators Coons, Blunt, Sessions, and Hirono, the VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 is cosponsored by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Schumer (D – N.Y.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

The following organizations have endorsed the VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013: National Association of Police Organizations, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Major County Sheriffs’ Association, National Criminal Justice Training Center, Major Cities Chiefs’ Association, National Children’s Alliance, National Children’s Advocacy Center, National Center for Victims of Crime, Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department, and the National Child Protection Training Center.

Senator Coons votes to reform VA

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) voted on Wednesday for bipartisan legislation to reform the Veterans Affairs medical system. The compromise bill would give veterans new flexibility for receiving medical care, empower the VA to hire more doctors and nurses, and give the VA Secretary the ability to fire underperforming senior managers. The Senate approved the bill Wednesday by a vote of 93-3.

“Our veterans deserve to receive the medical care and support that they have earned,” Senator Coons said. “As I said when Secretary Shinseki resigned, the problems facing the VA system go far beyond any one individual. Real reforms are long overdue. This bipartisan bill takes a number of steps to strengthen and modernize the VA system, making it easier for veterans to get the care they deserve. I’m glad my colleagues in the Senate have chosen to put politics aside today and stand by our nation’s veterans.”

The Veterans Access to Care Act would:

Give veterans the opportunity to seek care outside of the VA system. If the VA cannot schedule an appointment for a veteran within their wait time performance metrics or the veteran resides more than 40 miles from any VA medical center or Community Based Outpatient Clinic, then the veteran can exercise their choice to receive care from the Medicare program provider of their choice, or use Federal Qualified Health Centers, or facilities funded by the Department of Defense or Indian Health Centers.
Empower the VA Secretary with the authority to fire poor-performing senior employees. Senior managers who have been found to be performing poorly would be able to be removed or demoted. Congress would need to be notified within 30 days, and the Senior Executive would be allowed an expedited review by the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Hire more doctors and nurses. Using appropriated but unobligated funds, the VA would be given expedited authority to hire more doctors and nurses for VA facilities.
Create a framework for additional study. The bill would create independent commissions on scheduling and care, and on capital planning, to further assess the VA’s needs and make recommendations moving forward. The bill would also create a technological task force dedicated to making and implementing recommendations for modernizing the VA’s antiquated scheduling system.

Senator Coons wrote last month to the head of the Wilmington VA Medical Center seeking assurances that Delaware veterans are not being subjected to the kind of misconduct that has been found at other VA facilities. http://1.usa.gov/1lGHbtp

A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Coons also voted last month for legislation that would fund a nationwide investigation of alleged scheduling misconduct at the VA. The military construction/veterans affairs appropriations bill will also fund work to reduce the backlog in disability claims at the VA, and increases funding for repairs to veterans’ long-term care facilities, including the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford. http://1.usa.gov/1t05lD7

Senator Coons also cosponsored three bills last month to strengthen the care America offers its veterans. The Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act and the Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act would improve access to critical mental health services, and the Military and Caregiver Services Improvement Act would ensure family caregivers have the support they need to provide for wounded veterans. http://1.usa.gov/1ibx5ja

Six questions about Thursday’s markup of bill to reauthorize Victims of Child Abuse Act

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up bipartisan legislation Thursday to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers that serve child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 was introduced in December by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, and Senators Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

In advance of the Committee markup, here are answers to six key questions about the bill:

1. What does the bill do?

The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 reauthorizes a program enacted by Congress in 1990 to fund 800 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the U.S. The bill will modestly increase authorization levels for Children’s Advocacy Centers for the first time since the VOCAA was enacted. The reauthorization would also strengthen the programs through enhanced accountability provisions, non-profit requirements and limitations on conference expenditures.

2. How much does it cost?

Acknowledging current fiscal constraints, the VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 authorizes increased funding of up to $22.5 million – up from $20 million – for the first time in more than two decades. This moderate increase is still below an amount that would keep pace with inflation and population growth.

3. How has it been funded?

Congressional authorization for Children’s Advocacy Centers lapsed in 2005, but until recently, requests for subsequent funding have been included in the President’s budgets and consistently provided through the appropriations process. In the last three years, however, the President’s proposed budgets have either zeroed out or significantly cut federal funding for the VOCAA. The 2015 budget proposal cut funding by $8 million, but as in previous years, Senator Coons and others on the Appropriations Committee fought to restore it.

4. What, exactly, are Children’s Advocacy Centers?

Children’s Advocacy Centers employ a multi-disciplinary team of trained professionals to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been victims of abuse. These interviews are designed to be admissible in court, preventing children from being re-traumatized by having to tell their stories multiple times. In 2012 alone, more than 286,000 children were served at 800 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the United States, with more than 197,000 cases reporting sexual abuse. Their use in child abuse cases saved, on average, $1,000 per case in court, child protection, and investigative fees.

5. Who has sponsored it?

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

6. Who has endorsed it?

The National Association of Police Organizations, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Major County Sheriffs’ Association, National Criminal Justice Training Center, Major Cities Chiefs’ Association, National Children’s Alliance, National Children’s Advocacy Center, National Center for Victims of Crime, Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department, and the National Child Protection Training Center.

Senator Coons votes to make a college education more affordable

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) voted Wednesday to give students a fair shot at an affordable college education by lowering interest rates for millions of borrowers with outstanding loans. The Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would allow graduates with outstanding student loan debt to refinance their loans at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. The measure was blocked by a Republican filibuster.

“A college education is no longer a luxury – it is a prerequisite for most of today’s middle class careers,” Senator Coons said. “In an already challenging economy, too many students are carrying the additional burden of crushing student loan debt. The same system that has made a college degree attainable for millions of students is today holding them hostage under a mountain of debt.”

“The growing number of students falling behind on loan payments is a worrying signal that the rising cost of college is outpacing students’ ability to pay,” the Senator continued. “Delaware is sending more students to college than ever before, but they are returning with a nation-high average of $33,000 in student loan debt. The many years of loan repayments ahead will hinder their ability to make long-term investments and everyday purchases that put money back into our economy. While our students struggle, Republicans in Congress have repeatedly blocked efforts to ease their burden. The bill before the Senate today was yet another example that would have made a real difference for nearly 70,000 Delawareans. It’s time for Congress to get past the gridlock and work together to make college more affordable for America’s students.”

Student loan debt — now at a staggering $1.2 trillion — is the second highest form of consumer debt, and it is creating a drag on the U.S. economy. Long-term debt is preventing many Americans from buying a home, saving for retirement, starting a business, or even starting a family.

Senator Coons cosponsors bill to help families access affordable health coverage

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and 19 of their Senate colleagues have introduced legislation to help families in Delaware and across the country access tax credits provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to purchase affordable health coverage. The measure, known as the Family Coverage Act, would clarify ACA rules to permit families who cannot afford health plans offered by their employers to utilize tax credits to purchase coverage through the health insurance marketplace.

“The Affordable Care Act guarantees access to affordable health care for every American,” Senator Coons said. “Central to this promise is the availability of tax credits to subsidize coverage for those who can’t afford it. Congress intended for these benefits to extend to all working families, but in its misinterpretation of the law, the IRS has excluded many families who should be eligible for assistance. The Family Coverage Act would fix this mistake, allowing the law to work as it was intended, and giving parents the help they need to purchase affordable health coverage for their families.”

Under the ACA, large employers must offer comprehensive, affordable coverage to employees. If the employees’ share of premiums costs less than 9.5 percent of family income, the coverage is deemed “affordable” and the employee is ineligible for tax credits to help buy health coverage on the health insurance marketplace.

However, the IRS interpreted the law in such a way that health insurance is considered “affordable” if the employee’s share of premiums for individual coverage – rather than the more expensive family coverage – is under 9.5 percent of family income. The result is that many middle-class families miss out on tax credits that would make their entire family coverage affordable. Without a change, up to 460,000 children could be left uncovered.

“The March of Dimes commends Senator Coons for supporting efforts to fix the so-called ‘family glitch,’” stated March of Dimes Delaware Chapter State Director Aleks Casper. “The Administration’s current interpretation of the Affordable Care Act leaves some families in limbo, where they have neither access to affordable family coverage through an employer nor access to assistance to get coverage in the marketplace. In some cases, women may be unable to obtain coverage to improve their health before they get pregnant or to receive vital prenatal and maternity care. If passed, this legislation will make a tremendous difference in the lives of Delaware’s women, children and their families.”

In addition to Senators Coons and Franken, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.Dak.), Angus King (I-Maine), Martin Heinrich (D-N.Mex.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tom Udall (D-N.Mex.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska).

The bill is also supported by groups across the country, including the Small Business Majority, American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Defense Fund, Children’s Dental Health Project, Community Catalyst, Consumers Union, March of Dimes, National Health Law Program, National Immigration Law Center, First Focus Campaign for Children, and Children’s Hospital Association.

Judiciary Committee to take up bill to save centers for victims of child abuse

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up bipartisan legislation Thursday to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers that serve child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, and Senators Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) in December.

“There is no crime more horrific than the physical or sexual abuse of child,” Senator Coons said. “Child abuse shatters families and turns children’s lives upside down. Children’s Advocacy Centers provide a safe haven for victims and their families in the aftermath of tragedy, helping them to heal and bring justice to perpetrators. These facilities are also a critical asset to law enforcement, who rely on the centers’ trained specialists to retrieve testimony from victims without harming their recovery. Anyone who has visited these unique centers and witnessed their transformative work can testify to their immense value for our communities. Reauthorization of this vital program is long overdue, and I hope my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee will join me in moving it forward this week.”

Children’s Advocacy Centers employ a multi-disciplinary team of trained professionals to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been victims of abuse. These interviews are designed to be admissible in court, preventing children from being re-traumatized by having to tell their stories multiple times. In 2012 alone, more than 286,000 children were served at over 800 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the United States, with over 197,000 cases reporting sexual abuse. Their use in child abuse cases saved, on average, more than $1,000 per case in court, child protection, and investigative fees.

The VOCAA Reauthorization Act of 2013 would increase authorization levels for Children’s Advocacy Centers for the first time since the VOCAA was enacted in 1990. Acknowledging current fiscal constraints, this moderate increase, from $20 million to $22.5 million, is still below an amount that would keep pace with inflation and population growth. The reauthorization would also strengthen the programs through enhanced accountability provisions, non-profit requirements and limitations on conference expenditures.

Senator Coons’ infrastructure, housing priorities included in appropriations bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined his colleagues on the Committee Thursday to approve the FY15 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, which supports key transportation and affordable housing programs in Delaware. The bill will now move to the Senate floor for consideration.

“Just this week, the critical I-495 bridge over the Christina River in Wilmington, which carries more than 90,000 drivers every day, was closed indefinitely,” Senator Coons said. “This closure is hurting businesses and families in Delaware – and it’s just one in a string of recent emergencies that demonstrate the urgent need for investment in our infrastructure. We can’t afford to neglect the vital roads, bridges, and transit systems we depend on every day. This funding bill takes important steps forward to address our national infrastructure needs, including investments in key projects and services in Delaware. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will come together in the coming months to pass this critical bill and take action to tackle our nation’s mounting infrastructure debt.

“This bill also makes important investments to help veterans and low-income families secure fair, affordable housing and improve the quality of life in our communities. I was proud to fight against damaging cuts to the Community Development Block Grant Program – one of HUD’s longest running and most successful programs – which has helped to revitalize low-income communities across Delaware.”

Throughout the appropriations process, including during Subcommittee negotiations, Senator Coons has fought for a number of Delaware priorities that were included in the bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this week. They are highlighted below:

Amtrak

Senator Coons fought to ensure sustained funding for Amtrak so it can begin addressing the nearly $6 billion backlog in needed infrastructure upgrades. The bill includes $1.39 billion, level with FY14 appropriations, that will allow Amtrak to continue serving its rapidly growing clientele and address crucial capital investment needs. Many of the Northeast Corridor’s bridges and tunnels are now over a century old, and the average age of Amtrak’s equipment fleet is the oldest in the company’s history. In the future, we will need to do more to invest in Amtrak and meet our growing national infrastructure debt. This funding will also allow Amtrak to continue to implement critical safety measures for all passengers and help make their stations and services more accessible to passengers with disabilities.

I-495 Bridge

Senator Coons advocated for language, included in the Committee report, highlighting the damage to and closure of the I-495 bridge over the Christina River in Delaware as one of several recent transportation emergencies facing the nation, and recognizing the importance of the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief (ER) program in bringing these bridges and roads back into service as quickly and safely as possible. Delaware received $2 million from the ER program this week to assess damages and begin emergency repairs to the I-495 bridge.

Federal Highway Administration

Senator Coons fought to ensure sustained funding for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which will allow the FHWA to make critical safety and performance improvements to the national highway system, while creating jobs that build and maintain our infrastructure. The THUD bill will provide $149 million in formula funding for Delaware highway maintenance projects.

National Infrastructure Investments

Senator Coons successfully fought against major cuts to the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, securing $550 million for the program this year. The TIGER grants program helps state and local governments pay for new highways and bridges, public transit projects, railways, and port infrastructure, and is critical to addressing the deteriorating state of the U.S. transportation system. The Port of Wilmington recently received a $10 million TIGER grant to help renovate two cargo berths dating back to 1922. Demand for TIGER grants across the country is dramatically outpacing available funds – in FY13, requests totaled approximately $9 billion, nearly 20 times the $474 million set aside for the program.

Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act

Senator Coons fought to ensure sustained funding for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which provides loans, loan guarantees, and federal credit assistance to facilitate national and regional transportation projects that would otherwise go unfunded. A range of transportation projects are eligible for TIFIA funding, including highways, transit, rail, intermodal freight, and port infrastructure. TIFIA funding is currently supporting work to reduce congestion on U.S. 301 in Delaware.

Federal Transit Administration

Senator Coons secured an additional $310 million in funding for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which will help states fund important transit improvement projects and address our nation’s growing infrastructure backlog. FTA funds provide critical support for DART bus and transit service and SEPTA regional rail service in Delaware. The THUD bill also includes language encouraging the Federal Transit Administration to define and share best practices for resiliency planning for extreme weather events, an important issue for Delaware and other low-lying coastal states.

Airport Improvement Program

Senator Coons fought against cuts to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and secured an additional $130 million for the program over FY14 appropriations. This funding is critical to the Sussex County Airport, which has received nearly $4 million in grants through AIP since FY12, allowing the airport to expand its runway and enhance critical infrastructure to improve safety.

Crude-by-Rail Safety

In response to increasing crude oil production and transportation in the U.S., the bill includes a multi-faceted initiative focused on crude-by-rail safety. This is an important priority for Delaware to ensure the state’s continued strong safety record in the transport and delivery of crude and other hazardous materials. The bill includes funding for 20 new DOT rail and hazardous materials inspectors, as well as 45 existing rail safety positions, and adds $3 million to expand automated track inspections to ensure proper maintenance of crude oil routes. The bill also includes provisions to create a short-line safety institute, improve classification of flammable liquids, and extend training for first responders. In April, Senator Coons signed a letter to Senate THUD leadership urging creation of a new Safe Transportation of Energy Products Fund as well as investments to increase inspection personnel.

Affordable Housing

Senator Coons fought against significant cuts to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in the President’s proposed budget, securing $3.02 billion for the program. CDBG housing projects have assisted more than 1.1 million households since 2005, providing financial assistance to new homeowners and rehabilitation assistance to the elderly and other existing homeowners. The program has also helped to create and retain more than 330,000 jobs for low- and moderate-income persons through a variety of economic development activities. CDBG has faced $920 million in cuts since 2010, forcing communities supported by the program to dramatically shrink or discontinue projects for vulnerable community members. Program funds assisted more than 225 Delaware families in 2013.

Fair Housing

Senator Coons fought to boost funding for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), and the Committee provided an increase of $500 million over FY14 levels. FHIP is the primary source of funding for fair housing education and enforcement activities at the local level. The Community Legal Aid Society in Wilmington received more than $300,000 from the program in FY13 and uses its grant to reduce instances of housing discrimination in Delaware through increased enforcement efforts.

Veterans Housing

The bill includes sustained funding of $75 million for the HUD-Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The HUD-VASH program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs that assists homeless veterans in obtaining and maintaining housing. The program has helped reduce homelessness among veterans by 24 percent since 2010 and served approximately 120 Delaware veterans since 2008.

Senator Coons’ public safety priorities included in appropriations bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined his colleagues on the Committee Thursday to approve the FY15 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which supports key programs for Delaware law enforcement officers and victims of child abuse. The bill will now move to the Senate floor for consideration.

“This spending bill makes critical investments in both the safety and welfare of Delaware’s law enforcement officers and the protection of the youngest victims of abuse,” Senator Coons said. “We have no greater obligation than to stand with those who serve and protect us, and to defend the most vulnerable members of our society. One of the reasons I’m so fortunate to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee is because of days like today – when we can move forward on a bipartisan basis with a funding bill for the next year that makes a little bit of progress in the right direction.”

Victims of Child Abuse

After the President’s budget proposal cut funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers by $8 million, Senator Coons and Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, led a letter to the Committee signed by more than 30 senators urging sustained funding for the program. The Committee complied, providing $19 million for Children’s Advocacy Centers, which serve child victims of violent crimes and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. Senator Coons has been an outspoken advocate for Delaware’s three Children’s Advocacy Centers located in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown. Full funding will allow Children’s Advocacy Centers to continue serving child abuse victims nationwide, and provide opportunities for new development in the 1,000 underserved counties with no access to a Children’s Advocacy Center. More on Senator Coons’ efforts here: http://1.usa.gov/1kAG9D8

Bulletproof Vest Partnership

Senator Coons advocated for increased funding for the life-saving Bulletproof Vest Partnership and secured $500,000 in additional funds over FY14 appropriations. In recent years, demand for bulletproof vests has been outpacing funding for the program. In 2013, the program was able to cover only a third of the cost of purchasing a new vest, rather than half of the cost, as the law provides. Thousands of vests have been purchased by Delaware law enforcement through the Partnership over its 14-year history, including nearly 4,000 in the last five years. More on Senator Coons’ efforts here: http://1.usa.gov/LpLXAQ

Recidivism

Senator Coons successfully advocated for a $2.25 million increase in funding for the Second Chance Act, which invests in cost-saving strategies that improve public safety and reduce recidivism. The Second Chance program supports effective reentry initiatives like substance abuse treatment for offenders and court diversion programs, which allow offenders charged with minor crimes to keep their records clean after successfully completing community transition programs. In Delaware, these grants enhance the state’s successful Individual Assessment, Discharge and Planning Team, or I-ADAPT program, by increasing the number of assessments and treatment groups available to sex offenders, and helping more offenders participate and track their progress through the program.

Senator Coons’ manufacturing priorities included in appropriations bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Appropriations Committee members Thursday to approve the FY15 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which supports key programs for Delaware’s advanced manufacturers, researchers, and entrepreneurs. The bill will now move to the Senate floor for consideration.

“One of the reasons I’m fortunate to serve Delaware on the Senate Appropriations Committee is because of days like today, when we can move forward, in a bipartisan way, with a funding bill for the next year that makes some real progress in the right direction. This bill provides strong support for valuable Manufacturing Extension Partnerships as well as promising bio-manufacturing research, both of which have important impacts in Delaware. It also requires the U.S. government to begin planning for a broader national manufacturing strategy to ensure our nation is more competitive in the global market, and that we’re doing everything we can to help our local manufacturers grow and create jobs through exports. I was proud to advocate for these priorities on the Appropriations Committee and I’ll continue to fight for them on the Senate floor.”

Manufacturing Extension Partnerships

Senator Coons fought for $141 million – a $13 million increase over FY14 appropriations – for Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, the only public-private partnership dedicated to providing technical support and services to small and medium-sized manufacturers. According to data from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, every dollar invested in MEP facilitates $19 in new sales growth and $21 in new client investment. Demand for MEP services is greater than ever, and full funding will allow the existing MEP center network to facilitate job creation and new opportunities in the manufacturing sector. In April, Senator Coons co-led a letter to the Committee, signed by 24 senators, urging full funding of the program. Delaware’s MEP operates through Delaware Technical Community College in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Delaware Office of Economic Development, and the Delaware State and local Chambers of Commerce.

National Manufacturing Strategy

The bill includes language directing the Office of Science & Technology Policy to report to Congress with a comprehensive plan to develop a national manufacturing strategy. This language compliments the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, legislation introduced by Senators Coons and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), to require the President to submit to Congress an updated National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing every four years. That legislation passed the Senate Commerce Committee in April.

Bio-Manufacturing

The bill includes language proposed by Senator Coons recognizing the importance of U.S. bio-manufacturing and directing the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase support for it in its advanced manufacturing portfolio by dedicating at least $15 million to new bio-manufacturing initiatives. Bio-manufacturing is not only important to the U.S., but competitor countries, including the UK and China, are also ramping up their investment in bio-manufacturing R&D. The NSF’s $150 million FY15 budget request for advanced manufacturing included only $2 million dedicated to life sciences overall. Senator Coons fought successfully for increased investment to advance U.S. global competitiveness in this field and to support groundbreaking bio-manufacturing research at the University of Delaware.

Foreign Commercial Service

With persistent encouragement from Senator Coons, the Department of Commerce announced the expansion of the Foreign Commercial Service a few weeks ago – including four new offices in African countries (Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique) and four office expansions in Africa (Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, and Libya). The expansion will create nearly 70 new positions and post 17 additional officers globally to help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets. To ensure adequate staffing and improve staff retention, particularly in critical African posts, the FY15 Appropriations bill requests a report on methods to improve retention and professional development of Foreign Commercial Service Officers, Department of Commerce staff, and local staff. Employing more local staff is a cost effective way to expand the International Trade Administration’s capacity and build the capacity of individuals in target countries to support trade.

Innovation

Senator Coons requested, and the Committee provided, $139 million for the National Science Foundation’s Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES) program, a multi-year effort to coordinate and grow research dedicated to solving our nation’s most pressing sustainability challenges. At the request of Senator Coons, the bill also includes language supporting SEES’ Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (SusChEM) program, which funds research on topics in the national interest, including chemical recycling and replacement of rare, expensive, and/or toxic chemicals with earth-abundant, inexpensive, and benign chemicals.

Senator Coons advocated successfully for additional funding for the NSF’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) – a federal-state partnership that awards competitive funding to states to increase energy-related research investments. Delaware currently has an active EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program grant that funds a partnership between the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical & Community College, and Wesley College. The Committee boosted funding for EPSCoR by $1.7 million, allowing the program to further assist higher education entities in Delaware and other EPSCoR-eligible states.

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