Senator Coons condemns ongoing violence in Ukraine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement condemning the political violence in Ukraine:

“The deeply concerning political violence in Ukraine has led to a needless loss of life and dangerous instability. The Ukrainian government must immediately take steps to stop this violence and resume negotiations with the political opposition. The fundamental freedoms of all Ukrainians to peacefully protest must be respected, and those responsible for violence must be held accountable for their actions. Last month, I joined my colleagues in supporting a Senate resolution that passed unanimously calling for a peaceful and democratic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. The resolution also noted that the President and Congress should consider whether to apply targeted sanctions against those responsible for ordering or carrying out violence. I welcome President Obama’s recent decision to issue visa bans on 20 senior Ukrainian government officials, and support the consideration of additional measures to hold the government of Ukraine accountable.”

Senator Coons hosts opening discussion in series on urban unemployment

WILMINGTON, Del. – Two-dozen leaders from around Delaware gathered Wednesday morning for a discussion organized by U.S. Senator Chris Coons to openly and candidly discuss causes, symptoms, and potential solutions to chronic unemployment in the state’s urban areas. The meeting, hosted with Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, was the first of four planned by Senator Coons over the next few months in a series dubbed, “Winning the Fight Against Urban Unemployment.”

“If we’re going to overcome the chronic unemployment that is holding back Delaware’s urban areas, it’s going to be because we came together as a community to do it,” Senator Coons said. “The causes and symptoms of urban unemployment are historically and fundamentally more complex than for unemployment more broadly. Solving it just isn’t as simple as attracting a big box store or reopening a factory. Crime, poverty, chemical dependence, and lack of educational opportunity all contribute to stubborn jobless numbers and struggling communities trapped in a painful cycle.”

“What we tried to accomplish today is to get the ball rolling on a dialogue within our community that produces actionable ideas,” Senator Coons continued. “Some of those ideas will be for things we can do here in Delaware, and others will be for legislation I can pursue in Washington. Over and over again today we heard about the strong assets and opportunity we already have in place in Delaware, and about the need to do more to connect them. We can do that if we work together. We have thoughtful, passionate people here eager to make a difference. This was a really productive discussion and I look forward continuing the dialogue.”

Wednesday’s 90-minute long conversation covered a wide range of issues, including education, skills training, crime, recidivism, homelessness, hunger, and more. Additional discussions are planned in the run-up to a larger summit this spring.

Participating in Wednesday’s discussion were:

• Rhonda Austin, Business Community Liaison, Wilmington Job Corps
• Darius Brown, Wilmington City Councilman Darius Brown
• Dr. Michael Casson, Professor, Delaware State University
• Jim Coyne, Director, Strategy and Community Engagement, United Way
• Kia Ervin, Regional Director, Communities in Schools
• Darryl Graham, Vice President, Global Philanthropy & Community Relations, JP Morgan Chase
• Eva Howell, Executive Director, Wilmington Job Corps
• Maggie Jones, Delaware Department of Labor
• Rev. Terrence Keeling, Pastor and Community Leader
• Catherine Lindroth, Director, Strategy and Community Partnerships, Teach for America
• Charles Madden, Executive Director, HOPE Commission
• Andrew McKnight, Executive Director, the Challenge Program
• Secretary John McMahon, Delaware Department of Labor
• Patti Mengers, Regional Workforce Development Manager, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County
• Rev. Donald Morton, Pastor and Community Leader
• Zanthea Nichols, Director of Workforce and Business Development, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County
• Dr. Yasser Payne, University of Delaware
• Dr. Jack Perry, Head of School, Prestige Academy
• Chandra Pitts, Executive Director, One Village Alliance
• Saad Solomon, Re-Entry Specialist, United States Probation Office
• G. Stephen Williams, Mayor’s Office, City of Wilmington
• Deborah Wilson, President, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League

Senator Coons praises executive order on streamlining the export/import process

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), who leads the Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign in the Senate, praised President Obama’s issuance of an executive order on Wednesday streamlining the export/import process for America’s businesses. The executive order cuts processing and approval times from days to minutes for small businesses that export American-made goods and services by completing the International Trade Data System (ITDS) by December 2016. 

“The efficient movement of goods is critical to a strong economy,” Senator Coons said. “Duplicative paperwork and processing delays cost American businesses time and money and are particularly burdensome for small and medium-sized manufacturers. The ITDS will help small businesses navigate trade processes quickly and easily so they can focus their energies on effectively delivering American-made goods. This is exactly the sort of action we should be taking to cut red tape for American manufacturers and create the conditions necessary for growth. I applaud the President’s announcement today and look forward to working together to ensure timely implementation of the ITDS.”

Businesses must currently submit information to dozens of government agencies — often on paper forms — sometimes waiting days for approval to move goods across the border. The ITDS will allow businesses to electronically transmit the data required by the U.S. government to import or export cargo through a “single window.” Once fully implemented, the ITDS will dramatically reduce the time and expense for businesses to move the more than 50 million containers and $3.8 trillion worth of goods that cross our borders each year.

The President’s executive order establishes a deadline for completion of the ITDS, requires relevant agencies to transition from paper-based to electronic data collection, and calls for enhanced transparency by requiring public posting of implementation plans and schedules. The order also expands the Border Interagency Executive Council to improve coordination among the dozens of agencies with import and export requirements and with outside stakeholders. 

Read the President’s executive order here: http://1.usa.gov/1cqLwQO

Since its debut in October, Manufacturing Jobs for America has grown to include 46 bills from 26 senators. Thirty-two of the bills have already been introduced — 14 with bipartisan support — around four principles: strengthening America’s 21st century workforce; opening markets abroad; creating the conditions necessary for growth; and expanding access to capital.

More on Manufacturing Jobs for America can be found here: http://www.coons.senate.gov/manufacturing

Senator Coons to launch conversation on fight against urban unemployment

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons will host a four-part discussion series entitled, “Winning the Fight Against Urban Unemployment,” to bring together key stakeholders to openly and candidly discuss causes, symptoms, and potential solutions to the stubborn issue. The first meeting will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County and will feature a panel of leaders from the non-profit, education and urban-revitalization communities offering their input on the challenge of urban unemployment.

“Chronic urban unemployment is an epidemic that is tearing at our communities and eroding our neighbors’ quality of life,” Senator Coons said. “Unemployment rates in Delaware’s urban communities are significantly higher than in other parts of the state, and have been for years. Crime, poverty, chemical dependence, and lack of educational opportunity all contribute to stubborn jobless numbers that have confounded elected officials and community leaders for decades. The goal of this series is to confront the problem head-on, generating actionable ideas for addressing it locally in our community and legislatively in Washington.”  

Recent data has shown that while the unemployment rate in New Castle County was 5.7 percent in December, in Wilmington it was 8.3 percent. While Kent County’s unemployment rate was 6.0 percent, Dover’s was 7.1 percent.

Senator Coons and Goodwill’s director of workforce development, Zanthea Nichols, will moderate Wednesday’s discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the work currently being done and open the door to future collaborative efforts, setting the parameters and framework for the future discussions.

“We cannot let the complexity of this challenge scare us away from confronting it,” Senator Coons said. “As elected leaders, we need to keep trying and we have to come together as a community to find solutions.”

EVENT DETAILS

WHO:         Senator Chris Coons and leaders from academic, non-profit, community investment groups

WHAT:       First in a series of discussions entitled, “Winning The Fight Against Urban Unemployment”

WHEN:       Wednesday, February 19, 2014 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:     Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, 300 Lea Blvd., Wilmington, DE

PARTICIPANTS:                   

Rhonda Austin, Business Community Liaison, Wilmington Job Corps

Dr. Michael Casson, Professor, Delaware State University

Jim Coyne, Director, Strategy and Community Engagement, United Way

Kia Ervin, Regional Director, Communities in Schools

Darryl Graham, Vice President, Global Philanthropy & Community Relations, JP Morgan Chase

Eva Howell, Executive Director, Wilmington Job Corps

Rev. Terrence Keeling, Pastor and Community Leader

Catherine Lindroth, Director, Strategy and Community Partnerships, Teach for America

Charles Madden, Executive Director, HOPE Commission

Andrew McKnight, Executive Director, the Challenge Program

Secretary John McMahon, Delaware Department of Labor

Patti Mengers, Regional Workforce Development Manager, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County

Rev. Donald Morton, Pastor and Community Leader

Zanthea Nichols, Director of Workforce and Business Development, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County

Dr. Yasser Payne, University of Delaware

Dr. Jack Perry, Head of School, Prestige Academy

Chandra Pitts, Executive Director, One Village Alliance

Saad Solomon, Re-Entry Specialist, United States Probation Office

G. Stephen Williams, Mayor’s Office, City of Wilmington

Deborah Wilson, President, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League

State energy officials endorse Senator Coons’ bipartisan bill to reauthorize landmark energy efficiency programs

WASHINGTON – Energy officials from three states testifying at a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Energy Subcommittee Wednesday endorsed legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) to enhance and extend the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP).

In testimony at the hearing, entitled “Lessons from State Efficiency and Renewable Programs,” witnesses spoke about the importance of the two energy efficiency programs for their states and expressed strong support for the bipartisan Coons-Collins-Reed reauthorization effort.

“SEP is used by Hawaii, and all the states, to catalyze new energy business opportunities, reduce market barriers to energy efficiency and other alternatives, and support our governors and legislature in the kind of energy planning and policy development that has transformed the energy sector over the past five years,” said Mark Glick, Administrator of the Hawaii State Energy Office, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

“The State Energy Program has a history of success working across all sectors of the economy and supporting cost-effective energy efficiency improvements,” said Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman. He continued, “The Weatherization Assistance Program has helped low-income families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities make lasting and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements to their homes and reduce the burden of high energy prices for more than three decades.”

“We support the Coons, Collins, Reed bill to reauthorize the State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program—two programs that are essential in helping states further energy efficiency and renewable energy at home,” Rothman said.

Testifying on behalf of the National Association of State Energy Officials, William E. Taylor, NASEO Vice-Chairman and Director of the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, said “This bill has reduced authorization levels from past statutes, recognizes the flexibility provided through SEP and would update the Weatherization Program to move towards enhanced quality assurance and to permit the development of an innovation program which should allow volunteer organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, to expand their role. NASEO strongly endorses S. 1213.”

For nearly 40 years, WAP has helped low-income families make cost-saving energy efficiency upgrades and SEP has leveraged federal investment with state and local funds to increase energy efficiency and develop alternative energy sources. Congressional authorization for both programs expired in September 2012.

The Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act (S.1213) would:

• Reauthorize and extend the WAP and SEP through 2018;
• Develop a competitive, leveraged grant program for non-profits that have a track record of success to access the WAP; and
• Require minimum professional standards for WAP contractors and workers, and require an independent quality assurance program.

Find out more about the legislation and see a full list of endorsers here: http://www.coons.senate.gov/issues/weatherization

Senator Coons participates in roundtable on jobs for the clean energy economy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) participated in a roundtable discussion in the Capitol on Wednesday focused on strengthening American manufacturing and building a ‘green economy’ that creates jobs, protects our environment, and enhances our nation’s energy security. The meeting featured leaders from businesses, trade unions and environmental organizations working to repair America’s infrastructure, increase job opportunities, and promote our nation’s clean energy, renewable, and energy efficiency industries.

Eric Teather, president of New Castle’s WhiteOptics, was among the participants and briefed senators on growing opportunities and challenges in the energy efficiency sector. Teather discussed his start-up’s success manufacturing innovative, energy efficient materials in Delaware to meet the demands of the lighting industry.

“Investing in energy efficiency technology is the fastest way to strengthen our nation’s energy independence, help our environment, and create jobs,” Senator Coons said. “We should be doing all we can to support the researchers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs working to turn innovative ideas into sustainable new products. WhiteOptics is doing just that, harnessing the latest technology to optimize lighting efficiency and create manufacturing jobs in Delaware. I’m grateful to Eric for sharing his insights today and look forward to working with him and all of today’s participants to grow our clean innovation economy.” 

“As a small business focused on making products that improve energy efficiency, WhiteOptics is pleased to participate in the Steering and Outreach Committee meeting on green jobs,” said Eric Teather, president of WhiteOptics. “We have created a technology and competency in our field through innovation that furthers U.S. efforts as a leader in the energy-efficient lighting market. We believe that collaborative efforts between public and private sector such as these can be productive in accelerating innovation, encouraging domestic investment and ultimately increasing jobs.”

WhiteOptics uses technologies developed by DuPont to manufacture innovative lighting materials and meet growing commercial demand for low-cost energy efficiency building retrofits and upgrades. The company was the recipient of a three-year, $1.5 million R&D grant from the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy in January 2010.

Senator Coons is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, which is designed to spur the use of energy-efficient technologies in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the economy. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy estimates the bill would create 70,000 jobs and result in a net savings to the economy of $2.3 billion over 10 years. Senator Coons has also introduced bills to reauthorize federal energy efficiency programs, encourage valuable energy savings contracts, and help renewable and energy efficiency projects access capital at a lower cost.

Senator Coons recognized for leadership on innovation policy

WASHINGTON – Two technology policy groups honored U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) at a ceremony in Washington Tuesday evening with their 2014 TechVoice Champion Award. CompTIA and TECNA annually recognize lawmakers who champion policies that support innovation and America’s small and medium-sized technology firms.

“American ingenuity has always been at the core of our economic success,” Senator Coons said. “It is an honor to receive the 2014 TechVoice Champion Award, and fight for the jobs that the innovation economy creates. The challenges of the global economy may be new, but the solution is the same – supporting and sustaining American innovators. America’s researchers, business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs are already working to help create jobs and ensure American competitiveness in the global economy. We just have to support and sustain their hard work by investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, promoting innovation by investing in research and development, and supporting entrepreneurship.”

Senator Coons was recognized after having established himself as a leader on innovation policy by introducing a series of bills that support research and development, and help innovative small businesses grow to create jobs.

“Supporting and investing in America’s 21st century workforce are imperative for the U.S. economy and its ability to spur job growth and innovation and to compete globally,” said Elizabeth Hyman, vice president, public advocacy, CompTIA. “Senator Coons has earned a reputation as a principled, pragmatic legislator with a strong voice for job creation and the innovation economy. He co-sponsored two pieces of legislation that will benefit small tech companies, both of which we have supported, Startup Innovation Credit Act of 2013, S.193 and Startup Act 2.0, S. 3217.”

About TechVoice
TechVoice is a partnership of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), and participating regional technology associations. Collectively, TechVoice represents thousands of technology companies across the country employing millions of workers. TechVoice is dedicated to empowering and mobilizing the grassroots tech community to impact legislative and regulatory issues important to growth, innovation and job creation. For more information, visit www.techvoice.org and http://twitter.com/tech_voice.

About CompTIA
CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. Visit www.comptia.org, http://www.facebook.com/CompTIA and http://twitter.com/comptia.

About TECNA
The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) represents almost 50 IT and technology trade organizations that, in turn, represent more than 16,000 technology-related companies in North America. TECNA serves its members and the industry through its strong peer-to-peer network and its regional initiatives to raise the visibility and viability of the technology industry.

Senator Coons praises creation of National Strategy on Wildlife Trafficking

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, praised the National Strategy on Wildlife Trafficking released by the White House on Wednesday, which aims to strengthen U.S. leadership on efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

“Wildlife trafficking has emerged as a serious threat not only to the world’s iconic wildlife species, but also to national security, community stability, and economic development,” Senator Coons said. “The growing involvement of heavily armed, well-organized criminal networks in the trade has elevated the seriousness of the problem, and, coupled with escalating demand – primarily in Asia, but also in the United States – has led to dramatic declines in wildlife populations and ongoing security challenges, particularly in the African nations where poaching is occurring.”

Poaching of elephants, rhinos, and other wildlife across the globe has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. The crisis is particularly acute in central Africa, where heavily armed poachers have decimated elephant populations, and in South Africa, which houses the continent’s largest proportion of rhinos. Profits from the multi-billion dollar wildlife trade are frequently funneled to transnational crime syndicates, whose activities threaten to disrupt the rule of law in developing countries.

“Today’s landmark announcement of a national strategy on wildlife trafficking is welcome news,” the Senator continued. “For the first time, the U.S. has a comprehensive strategy for combatting this threat. As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, I sent a letter in December urging the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking to develop a strong national strategy, and I am pleased with the result. I applaud the administration for taking this threat seriously and developing a coordinated national strategy to combat it. I look forward to working with the agencies involved, as well as our international and non-governmental partners to implement the strategy and make headway to address this issue.”

“The omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress last month includes, for the first time ever, $45 million in dedicated funding to combat wildlife trafficking,” Senator Coons said. “This is a great start, but we have to do more as a nation to marshal resources, strengthen legal tools and law enforcement, expand training and education, and employ technologies and other innovative solutions.”

The strategy outlines three strategic priorities for U.S. actions to combat poaching: strengthening domestic and global enforcement; reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife at home and abroad; and strengthening partnerships with international partners, local communities, NGOs, private industry, and others to combat illegal wildlife poaching and trade. Download the full strategy here: http://1.usa.gov/1m4fsZx

Senator Coons was among a group of bipartisan leaders from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee who sent a letter to the chairs of the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking in December urging the development of a strong national strategy and the full use of available government resources to comprehensively combat poaching.

Their letter can be downloaded as a PDF here: http://1.usa.gov/1bdssQZ

Carper, Coons, Carney to host job fair in New Castle County on March 7

WILMINGTON, Del. – Continuing to help jobless Delawareans find employment, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney, in partnership with Brandywine Counseling Services, announced Tuesday that they will host a job fair on Friday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington for those seeking long-term career opportunities. This will be the second job fair hosted by the delegation this year.

Interested companies seeking to fill positions can contact Senator Coons’ office at 302-573-6345 or via email at workshop@coons.senate.gov. Businesses will be on hand at both fairs to interview potential new employees. Delawareans are encouraged to come dressed for success with resumes in hand.

“When we started holding job fairs in 2011, the outlook about the economy and the job market wasn’t great. But, as we approach the 19th delegation job fair, I have felt the mood improve considerably,” Senator Carper said. “We still have a lot of work to do to connect out-of-work Delawareans with good-paying jobs, and Senator Coons, Congressman Carney and I continue to make that our top priority. I won’t be satisfied until we hold a job fair and only employers attend because everyone who wants a job has one.” 

“Even with unemployment at a five-year low in the country, there are still tens of thousands of Delawareans still looking for work,” Senator Coons said. “These job fairs are a real way to make a difference in our neighbors’ lives with a dedicated focus to help those Delawareans connect with real job opportunities.”

“The entire state benefits when Delawareans can find jobs to support themselves and their families,” said Congressman Carney.  “Last month in Dover, we hosted an event that connected hundreds of skilled, qualified job seekers with employers looking to hire.  I look forward to building on this success and helping even more Delawareans find job opportunities next month in Wilmington.” 

Since 2011, the Congressional delegation has hosted 18 job fairs in Delaware, including five specifically for veterans. 

For more information on how to participate as an employer or job seeker, please call Senator Coons’ office at 302-573-6345, or email workshop@coons.senate.gov. Pre-registration is not required.

Senator Coons welcomes steps to ease transition for employers under Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) welcomed the U.S. Department of Treasury’s issuance on Monday of final regulations that ease the transition for many of the American employers affected by the “shared responsibility” section of the Affordable Care Act. Ninety-six percent of American businesses have 49 or fewer employees and are not affected by the law.

Among the changes announced Monday is a transition period for the 2 percent of American employers that have 50 to 99 employees, giving employers until 2016 to offer quality coverage to their employees. The 2 percent of American employers with 100 or more employees will still have to offer such coverage in 2015, but only to 70 percent of their employees that year. This change will allow companies with seasonal hiring or substantial turnover within employees’ first year of employment (like hotels and restaurants) to plan for and deliver coverage for broader numbers of their employees.

“While the Affordable Care Act is already doing a lot of good for a lot of people, it does need to be updated and implemented responsibly to make sure we minimize the potential harm to small and medium-sized businesses,” Senator Coons said. “It is a complex law whose changes need to be fully understood by employers and implemented responsibly. I have shared with President Obama what I have heard from business owners up and down Delaware: that they will need more time to understand and fulfill their responsibilities under the law. The regulations issued today show a willingness to listen to entrepreneurs and leaders of businesses of all sizes, and to work with them to ensure the law is implemented fairly and responsibly.”

Monday’s regulations also provided clarifications of whether employees of certain types or in certain occupations are considered full-time, including: volunteers, educational employees, seasonal workers, work-study students, and adjunct faculty. The clarification delivers on a commitment made by the Obama administration to Senator Coons last month that volunteer firefighters would not be counted as employees of their volunteer fire companies. More on that here: http://1.usa.gov/1kwHwTy 

In December, Senator Coons sent a letter with 12 of his colleagues to President Obama urging clarification of the employer requirements set forth in the Affordable Care Act. The letter can be downloaded as a PDF here: http://1.usa.gov/1faz0SI