Carper, Coons, Carney host Holiday Job Fair for more than 600 job seekers

NEWARK, Del. – The second annual Holiday Job Fair, hosted by U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney, drew more than 600 job seekers to the Christiana Mall Thursday afternoon. The fair, which featured more than 30 employers, was designed specifically to connect potential new hires with retail and other mall outlets looking to meet increased staffing demands ahead of the busy holiday season.

Retail outlets including Target, jcpenney, Talbots, Lucky Brand, Gap, and White House|Black Market received hundreds of applications and in some cases conducted on-the-spot interviews with candidates. Deborah Warren, Field Human Resources Manager at GameStop was among those conducting interviews on-site for the retailer’s more than 17,000 open seasonal positions.

“Today was a great opportunity for Delawareans looking for seasonal work to meet with employers and see what’s available,” said Senator Carper. “Like I always say, Delaware has a first-class workforce that attracts businesses to the First State. I’m proud that along with Chris and John, we can make events like this happen for the folks at home no matter what is going on in Washington.”

“The turnout at this afternoon’s job fair is proof-positive that there are unemployed or underemployed Delawareans who are out there ready and willing to work if given the opportunity,” said Senator Coons. “As the country continues on the road to economic recovery, I continue to hear personal stories from around the state about prospective hires making connections and landing well-paying jobs and that’s why we will continue to host these job fairs.”

“This job fair was a chance to help Delawareans looking for work over the holiday season,” said Congressman Carney. “Many retailers are searching for committed workers to help them out during the busiest time of the year. More needs to be done to get Delawareans into permanent jobs, which is why we’re hosting another job fair in Newark on November 4. I’m glad that we were able to connect so many Delaware job seekers with these opportunities.”

Since 2011, the congressional delegation has hosted 15 job fairs in Delaware, including four specifically for veterans. The delegation’s next job fair will be held Monday, November 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Newark. For more information on how to participate in the upcoming job fair as an employer or job seeker please call Senator Coons’ office at 302-573-6345, or email workshop@coons.senate.gov. 

Senator Coons votes to end government shutdown and avert default

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, voted in favor of H.R. 2775 on Wednesday night to end the shutdown of the federal government and avert a default on our nation’s debt. He released the following statement on his vote:

“As relieved as I am that we have brought this latest manufactured crisis to an end, I remain enormously frustrated that it ever got this far. Hostage-taking is not governing. Sixteen days of a shutdown government, at least $24 billion in economic losses, and rattled global markets were collateral damage in a conflict led by a small group of extremist Republicans. It was reckless, dangerous, and irresponsible, and I have heard from an array of Delawareans who agree that this is no way to govern. I hope that those responsible have learned their lesson and will not use our economy as a political bargaining chip again.

“We have major economic challenges to face as a nation, but we need to confront them together and we all need to play by the rules. Negotiating over the federal budget is a good place to start, and I’m glad that we finally have agreement — seven months after the Senate passed its budget — to finally proceed to those difficult negotiations.

“It is time to put this crisis behind us and move forward, refocusing on supporting job growth and rebuilding our economy.”

Carper, Coons, Carney to host job fair at Christiana Mall tomorrow

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney will host a seasonal job fair tomorrow at the Christiana Mall in Newark for Delawareans seeking employment over the holiday season.

The holiday job fair will be held from 3 to 7 pm on Thursday, October 17. Delawareans interested in attending the fair do not need to pre-register, but are encouraged to go to the court in front of jcpenney when they arrive.

Plans are also proceeding for the delegation’s November 4th job fair at the Embassy Suites in Newark. Employers with open positions are urged to email workshop@coons.senate.gov to reserve a booth.

Carper, Coons, Carney will host job fair at Christiana Mall regardless of government shutdown

WASHINGTON – The seasonal job fair being hosted by U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney at the Christiana Mall on Thursday, October 17, will proceed even if the federal government is still shut down. The mall’s owner, General Growth Properties, will supplement staff from the three offices to ensure Delawareans are able to access the seasonal job opportunities being offered by Christiana Mall stores.

“With thousands of Delawareans still struggling to find work, it is critical that we do everything in our power to ensure that anyone who needs a job, has access to one,” Senator Carper said. I’m hopeful that we will soon come to a responsible resolution of this needless shutdown so we can reopen the government and pay our bills, but regardless of what happens in Washington we need to do all that we can to help Delawareans find work to support themselves and their families.”

“Tea Party extremism has shut down our government and is threatening to shut down our economy,” Senator Coons said. “It will not shut down this job fair. Washington gridlock should not prevent us from making a difference for Delawareans, including the more than 32,000 who are still looking for work. I’m grateful for the partnership of the Christiana Mall, and hope this job fair helps our out-of-work neighbors.”

“Hard-working Delawareans across the state are looking for jobs to support their families — whether the government is open or closed,” Representative Carney said. “This job fair hopefully will ease the burden of families struggling to make ends meet through the holiday season.”

The holiday job fair will be held from 3 to 7 pm on Thursday, October 17. Delawareans interested in attending the fair do not need to pre-register, but are encouraged to go to the court in front of jcpenney when they arrive.

Plans are also proceeding for the delegation’s November 4th job fair at the Embassy Suites in Newark. Employers with open positions are urged to email workshop@coons.senate.gov to reserve a booth.

Statement from Senator Coons on findings of key study on climate science

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement in response to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report on the latest climate science. The report concludes with 95 percent certainty that human activity is causing climate change:

“For decades, a growing chorus of scientists has warned that rising global greenhouse gas emissions would lead to devastating environmental consequences for our planet. Today, the world’s leading climate scientists affirmed with near certainty that climate change has been caused predominantly by humans. The time to debate the reality of climate change is over. From the Arctic to the shorelines of Delaware, we have watched rising sea levels and extreme weather events threaten to destroy habitats, communities, businesses, and infrastructure. We have a responsibility to our planet, to each other, and to future generations to work together to slow this process and lessen its impact. I will continue working to support the study and analysis of climate change, as well as efforts to reduce global carbon emissions and help communities plan for and adapt to the effects of climate change.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change, established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization. More than 2,000 scientists contributed to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report.

Senator Coons votes to responsibly avert shutdown of federal government

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, voted on Friday to responsibly avert a government shutdown, supporting a measure that would continue existing funding levels for the federal government for a period of two months. It is now up to the House of Representatives to pass a similar “clean” continuing resolution in order to prevent a shutdown on Monday night.

“Shutting down the federal government, furloughing as many as 800,000 federal employees, and denying Americans access to the basic federal services due them is not a responsible way to resolve our nation’s political disagreements. Our democracy cannot function if the minority party threatens to shut down the government unless it gets its way. The Affordable Care Act is law. It was debated in Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court. It has already helped improve the health care coverage of tens of millions of Americans, and will soon expand access to affordable care for millions more. The Affordable Care Act should be amended to help it run more efficiently, but it should not be repealed. While I would much rather be voting on the traditional spending bills we crafted in the Appropriations Committee, I voted for the continuing resolution today because it responsibly keeps our government functioning and our nation moving forward. There are times for vigorous debate, but there are also times when we must come together and put our personal political agendas aside for the good of the country. That’s what Delawareans expect and deserve.”

Senator Coons spoke on the Senate floor on Wednesday to implore his colleagues not to shut down the government, but instead to focus on manufacturing jobs. You can read and watch his speech here: http://1.usa.gov/174iOlS

Senators Carper and Coons commend Senate reauthorization of the Congressional Award Program

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Tom Carper, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Senator Chris Coons (both D-Del.) commended the passage of the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S.1348). The Senate passed the measure unanimously.

The Congressional Award Program Act of 2013 reauthorizes the Congressional Award Program through October 1, 2018. This program, first enacted in 1979 recognizes excellence in public service and personal development among young people who demonstrate initiative, achievement and service to their communities. The program allows individuals to set and pursue personal goals in four areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Depending on the number of hours they complete, participants may earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold certificates or Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals. By awarding the endeavors of individuals in these four areas, the program encourages young Americans to undertake a challenge, set goals, and attain personal achievement.

Currently, Delaware has 68 active participants who have completed 19,952 hours of community service related to this awards program. Of those 68 students, 29 have been recognized and awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal.

“The Congressional Award Program recognizes and rewards young Americans across the nation for their outstanding efforts in their communities,” Chairman Carper said. “In Delaware alone, scores of young men and women have dedicated thousands of hours toward personal and community development. This award is one small way we can thank these young Americans for their dedication and commitment to public service and personal development. I thank my colleagues for quickly reauthorizing this important program and ensuring that it will continue in the coming years. Ultimately, I hope that this program will encourage more young people to serve their communities, foster achievement, and help create a stronger America.”

“Service is an incredibly powerful force – for our nation, for our communities, and for each of us individually,” Senator Coons said. “The Congressional Award program recognizes young people who have shown exceptional dedication to serving others and making a difference in their communities. I thank my colleagues for their support of this program and hope it will continue to inspire young Americans to invest their time and energy in service.” 

Carper, Coons, Carney Congratulate 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools

WILMINGTON, Del. — Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congressman John Carney (all D-Del.) congratulated The Charter School of Wilmington in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, Frear Elementary School in the Caesar Rodney School District and Shields Elementary School in the Cape Henlopen School District for being named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2013. These schools are recognized for their overall academic excellence or their progress in improving student academic achievement.

“Congratulations to the teachers, staff and students at Charter, Frear and Shields Elementary for their outstanding work and dedication to education to achieve National Blue Ribbon Status,” said Sen. Carper. “Delaware’s top-rate schools are teaching the next generation’s workforce, and I am so pleased that a school from all three counties in Delaware was chosen for this recognition.”

“Talented educators play an enormous role in helping our students succeed,” Senator Coons said. “It is wonderful to see the Charter School of Wilmington, Allen Frear Elementary, and Shields Elementary recognized nationally for their excellence as 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This is an outstanding achievement and I offer my sincerest congratulations to the students, teachers, principals and parents who helped their schools earn this distinguished honor.” 

“I’m happy to join parents and community members across the state in congratulating Frear Elementary, Shields Elementary, and the Charter School of Wilmington on being named National Blue Ribbon Schools,” said Congressman Carney. “One of the most important things we can do to strengthen the nation’s economy in the long term is ensure that young people get a quality education.  These schools are models that set high standards for students and have teachers that provide the support and guidance for them to achieve great things.”  

This program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements toward those standards. Since 1982, the U. S. Department of Education has sought out and celebrated great American schools. This nationally recognized award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating outstanding schools where students gain the knowledge, skills and character to meet 21st century challenges. 

Senate Judiciary Committee members call for IG review of surveillance authorities

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of nine Senate Judiciary Committee members, led by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), sent a letter Monday calling for the inspector general of the intelligence community to conduct a full-scale review of the use of surveillance authorities and make public the findings.

Specifically, the Senators are asking for detailed information on the surveillance of Americans under FISA and Patriot Act authorities and any misuse of these authorities over the last three years. Other Senators who joined the letter include: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

“We urge you to conduct comprehensive reviews of these authorities and provide a full accounting of how these authorities are being implemented across the Intelligence Community,” the Senators wrote. “The IC Inspector General was created in 2010 for this very purpose.  Providing a publicly available summary of the findings and conclusions of these reviews will help promote greater oversight, transparency, and public accountability.”

The bipartisan letter is part of the Committee’s continuing oversight in this area.  The Committee held a high-profile hearing in July featuring testimony from top administration officials. Leahy, who will deliver a keynote address at Georgetown University Law Center on Tuesday about national security and surveillance programs, recently announced that the Committee will hold an additional hearing next week featuring testimony from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Gen. Keith Alexander, Director of the National Security Agency.
 
A copy of the September 23 letter to the IG of the intelligence community is below.

September 23, 2013

The Honorable I. Charles McCullough III
Inspector General of the Intelligence Community
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Washington, DC 20511

Dear Inspector General McCullough: 

Recent disclosures about classified government surveillance activities have generated significant public discussion about the breadth of these programs, many of which are conducted pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and the need for appropriate oversight and checks and balances.

In particular, concerns have arisen about activities conducted under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and Section 702 of FISA, which was enacted as part of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008.  Recently declassified documents appear to reveal numerous violations of law and policy in the implementation of these authorities, including what the FISA Court characterized as three “substantial misrepresentation[s]” to the Court.  These declassified documents also demonstrate that the implementation of these authorities involves several components of the Intelligence Community (IC), including the National Security Agency, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, among others.

We urge you to conduct comprehensive reviews of these authorities and provide a full accounting of how these authorities are being implemented across the Intelligence Community.  The IC Inspector General was created in 2010 for this very purpose.  Comprehensive and independent reviews by your office of the implementation of Sections 215 and 702 will fulfill a critical oversight role.  Providing a publicly available summary of the findings and conclusions of these reviews will help promote greater oversight, transparency, and public accountability.

In conducting such reviews, we encourage you to draw on the excellent work already done by the Inspectors General of several agencies, including the Department of Justice, in reviewing these authorities.  But only your office can bring to bear an IC-wide perspective that is critical to effective oversight of these programs.  The reviews previously conducted have been more narrowly focused – as might be expected – on a specific agency.

In particular, we urge you to review for calendar years 2010 through 2013:

• the use and implementation of Section 215 and Section 702 authorities, including the manner in which information – and in particular, information about U.S. persons – is collected, retained, analyzed and disseminated;
• applicable minimization procedures and other relevant procedures and guidelines, including whether they are consistent across agencies and the extent to which they protect the privacy rights of U.S. persons;
• any improper or illegal use of the authorities or information collected pursuant to them; and
• an examination of the effectiveness of the authorities as investigative and intelligence tools.

We have urged appropriate oversight of these activities long before the problems with the implementation of these FISA authorities became public.  We believe it is important for your office to begin this review without further delay. 

Please proceed to administratively perform reviews of the implementation of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and Section 702 of FISA, and submit the reports no later than December 31, 2014.  Thank you in advance for your efforts to ensure a full accounting of the implementation of these surveillance authorities across the Intelligence Community.

Sincerely,

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

Carper, Coons, Carney to host two job fairs this fall

WILMINGTON, Del. – Committed to continuing to help out-of-work Delawareans find employment, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney announced Monday that they will host two additional job fairs this year — one geared specifically toward the holiday staffing needs of retailers at the Christiana Mall, and another for those seeking long-term career opportunities. These will be the sixth and seventh job fairs hosted by the delegation this year.

The holiday job fair will take place on Thursday, October 17 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the court in front of JCPenney in the Christiana Mall in Newark. The general job fair will be held on Monday, November 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Newark. 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. 

“I encourage all Delawareans seeking full-time or part-time work to come out and meet with employers at these last two job fairs of the year,” said Senator Carper. “Employers know that we have a world-class workforce here in Delaware, and I’m looking forward to this fair to link the two and provide employment to hundreds of Delawareans out of work.”

“With gridlock in Washington making it harder and harder to pass legislation that would meaningfully help the tens of thousands of Delawareans still looking for work, these job fairs are a way to make a real difference in our neighbors’ lives,” Senator Coons said. “Like the job fairs we hosted earlier in the year, our goal for these fairs is to help Delawareans connect with real job opportunities. Retailers in the Christiana Mall will be hiring for more than 1,000 seasonal positions at the holiday job fair, and we’re already recruiting employers for the November job fair.”

“Delaware employers are looking for reliable, dedicated workers, whether it’s just for the holiday season or on a more permanent basis,” said Congressman Carney.  “These job fairs are a chance to help Delawareans find work, while also responding to the needs of local businesses.  I urge anyone looking for work to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Since 2011, the Congressional delegation has hosted 14 job fairs in Delaware, including four 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.