Statement from Senator Coons on the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement Monday on the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey.

“Annie and I are saddened by the passing of our friend, Frank Lautenberg. Frank was not only a determined and accomplished lawmaker, but a remarkable man. I’ve known him in a number of capacities over the years — in our first meeting in Cape Town in 1987, later when he was an ‘I Have a Dream’ program sponsor in New Jersey, and ultimately here as a colleague in Senate. The combination of his personal history, his service to the country, his leadership in business, and his tireless advocacy for the concerns of New Jersey made him a senator whom I really respected.

“Frank was a tremendous and fun person to serve with. One night early on in my time in the Senate, we were here very late voting and Frank graciously invited me to dinner. It was the first time I got to see not ‘Senator Lautenberg,’ but ‘Frank,’ just hanging out, telling stories and jokes, and being an engaging, positive and just inspiring person. He will certainly be missed.

“My heart goes out to his wife, Bonnie, and his kids, Ellen, Nan, Lisa, and Joshua.”

Senator Coons, police officers shot at Courthouse urge continuation of life-saving Bulletproof Vest Partnership

WILMINGTON, Del. – Flanked by Capitol Police Sergeant Michael Manley, Capitol Police Corporal Steve Rinehart, and Lewes Police Chief Jeffrey Horvath, U.S. Senator Chris Coons stood with 50 officers from 13 law enforcement agencies on the steps of the New Castle County Courthouse on Friday morning and pledged to keep working to save the federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership, which helps police officers and local governments purchase life-saving body armor. Sergeant Manley and Corporal Rinehart were wearing vests purchased through the program in February when Thomas Matusiewicz entered the Courthouse’s lobby and opened fire. Both officers were struck, but survived because of their vests.

Thousands of vests have been purchased by Delaware law enforcement through the Partnership over its 14-year history — including 3,852 in the last five years — but with some in Congress now blocking continuation of the program, its future is in real jeopardy.

“Police officers work to keep us safe every day, so the least Congress can do is get their backs when they do it,” Senator Coons said. “The federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership makes costly body armor more affordable, ensuring that when officers go out to protect our communities, they can do so safely. There are folks in Congress who think the Bulletproof Vest Partnership isn’t a good investment of federal dollars, but rather than risk having an honest and transparent conversation about it on the floor, they’re preventing us from even considering it. The Partnership has saved more than 3,000 lives nationwide — including the lives of Sergeant Manley and Corporal Rinehart. We need to save this program so that this program can keep saving lives.” 

“The start of the work day here was no different than any other, but within minutes, that changed,” Sergeant Manley said on Friday. “I was shot with a .45 caliber bullet at close range. The injuries to my body included bruised ribs and a large laceration, as the vest had stopped that bullet from piercing my body. If it had, it would have pierced my heart. I was reminded of how lucky I was that day and in the days to follow by my friends, my family, neighbors, and people I hardly knew. I knew I considered myself eternally grateful, but I also knew that in this instance, I survived because I was given the proper equipment. The vest gave me a fighting chance – a chance to my duty to react, respond, and protect. It is my sincerest hope that this [bill] is passed. It would be the height of tragic absurdity that a police officer sworn to protect, respond and react, would lose his or her life because the makers of the law can not agree to provide that servant of the people with the fighting chance a bulletproof vest provides.”

“Since I began my law enforcement career 26 years ago, I’ve always considered my vest an essential part of my equipment,” Corporal Rinehart said Friday. “I can say without a doubt that if I had not been wearing my vest on February 11th, I would not be standing here before you today, or I would not be back in a full capacity. The vest has given me a second chance on life so I can spend quality time with my family and friends.”

“The Delaware Police Chiefs Council supports the initiatives of Chairman Leahy and Senator Coons to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program,” Lewes Police Chief Jeffrey Horvath said. “Body armor is essential equipment for police officers across the country. It is no less important than the service weapons, uniforms and properly equipped police cars we provide to our officers to do their jobs every day.  With the constant battle of budget cuts facing police chiefs across the country, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership allows us to provide new vests for our new officers and will continue to allow us to replace old body armor on a five-year schedule. It is extremely important that our police officers are able to protect themselves with the best bulletproof technology available and with a vest that properly fits each individual officer sworn to protect and serve. The Delaware Police Chief Council considers the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant program to be of critical importance to law enforcement across our nation.” Chief Horvath is chairman of the Delaware Police Chiefs Council.

The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act, which Senators Coons and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy re-introduced on May 13, reauthorizes the competitive grant program from the Bureau of Justice Assistance that provides funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to assist in their purchasing of bullet-resistant and stab-resistant body armor that complies with National Institute of Justice standards. Agencies can be reimbursed for up to 50 percent of the cost of qualifying body armor. Over the last 14 years, more than a million vests have been purchased nationwide, saving the lives of more than 3,000 police officers, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“The Delaware State Fraternal Order of Police strongly supports this legislation and calls upon our elected officials to ensure our officers are protected by voting for reauthorization of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program,” Delaware FOP President Fred Calhoun said. “Without these funds, many officers and agencies will not be able to afford these critical pieces of equipment.  Every day, we rely on our officers to put themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety of our citizens.  A small investment in the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program by the bipartisan leadership of our great nation will yield immeasurable returns in both the safety of Delaware’s Law Enforcement officers and the citizens they diligently serve.   The Delaware State Fraternal Order of Police believes that this vital piece of funding should not fall victim to partisan politics and that the time to fund the Bulletproof Vest Partnerships Grant Program is now.”

Below is data from the U.S. Department of Justice on Delaware’s participation in the program over the last five years:

Carper, Coons, Carney announce $20 million for climate change research at Delaware colleges

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney today announced a total of $20 million in National Science Foundation funding for four Delaware colleges and universities to invest in science education and research, with an emphasis on the effects of sea level rise and soil contamination. Renewable energy technologies and workforce development will also be studied. The University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wesley College, and Delaware Technical Community College will work collaboratively on the project.

“This grant award from the National Science Foundation will allow Delaware’s universities to continue to study and research the environmental impacts of the ever changing landscape of Delaware,” Senator Tom Carper said. “It will also help research alternative energy sources, such as off-shore wind, which can be harnessed off our coasts. This is another good step in understanding how the changing climate and human impacts on the land affect our environment now and for many years to come.”

“Delaware’s academic institutions are known for innovative research and cutting-edge science,” Senator Coons said. “This grant recognizes the quality of that work and its importance to our state and our nation. While sea level rise is generally seen as a coastal problem, the resulting soil contamination will amplify and extends its impacts in ways that need to be assessed and addressed. This work is important, and by training Delaware’s best and brightest in this area of science, we’re investing in our state’s long-term stability. 

“As a low-lying coastal state, Delaware has a particular interest in the changing environment and the improvement and use of alternative energy sources,” Congressman Carney said.  “This grant from the National Science Foundation will allow some of the most informed experts from across the state to study these issues and provide recommendations on how to address environmental changes in a way that best serves our communities.  I look forward to seeing the results of their work.”

According to the National Science Foundation, Delaware’s project will focus on water quality and renewable-energy use in vulnerable coastal areas subject to pressures from land use and climate changes. The research employs natural, physical, and social science approaches to examine the effects of rising sea level on the cycling of soil-bound contaminants and coupled land use and climate change impacts on water and natural systems ranging from tidal wetlands to agricultural land to densely populated and polluted urban areas. Novel sensors will be developed for environmental monitoring. The project will also address renewable energy including offshore wind. 

The University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wesley College, and Delaware Technical Community College will collaboratively address these themes using innovative research approaches and educational programs. The project includes public outreach activities and partnerships with private industry and government.

The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research program is designed to fulfill the foundation’s mandate to promote scientific progress nationwide. Twenty-eight states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam are currently eligible to participate. Through the program, NSF establishes regional partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that effect lasting improvements in a state’s or territory’s research infrastructure and research and development capacity, and hence, its academic competitiveness.

Projects in Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma will each also receive $20 million grants.

Rabbi Michael Beals of Congregation Beth Shalom offers Senate’s opening prayer

WASHINGTON – At the invitation of U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Rabbi Michael Beals of Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington offered the Senate’s opening prayer on Thursday as Guest Chaplain. His prayer is below: 

“Let us join together in prayer. Ribbonolam, Master of the Universe, we send our first prayer to the residents of Moore, Oklahoma. May be Your will that those who are missing be found alive and be cared for. Send comfort to those who have suffered loss, and with the help of those gathered here, send the resources required to rebuild. Eternal our God, You commanded us to care for the widow; the orphan; and you commanded us to care for — so appropriate today — the stranger in our midst. Thank you for giving our nation these esteemed United States Senators to help us as a nation fulfill the command to care for the most vulnerable in our midst. Into each of these honorable United States Senators, you have implanted Your divine spark. Help these senators, Your humble servants, find a way of working together for the common good. In doing so, may they best take their individual holy inner light and join them together, creating one unified shaft of light so strong that it will shine clear up to the firmament above. We pray this in your sacred and holy name, and let us all say, Amen.”

Senator Coons reflected on Rabbi Beals’ turn as Guest Chaplain in remarks on the Senate floor immediately after: 

“Thank you Leader Reid, and thank you for the opportunity to briefly recognize and celebrate this morning’s Chaplain. Rabbi Michael Beals has served our community in Wilmington, Delaware, and our country admirably, and with a strength of faith and foundation that you heard in this morning’s prayer. He is joined by his wife, Elissa, a caring veterinarian, his daughter, Ariella, whose Bat Mitzvah was just celebrated, and his daughter, Shira, and many, many other family and friends. He has a wonderful and accomplished education, being ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, also having studied at the American University, the University of California – Berkley, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In addition to his remarkable education, he is someone who is profoundly grounded in the calling — in the challenge — of rebuilding. As you heard in his reflection — his prayer — this morning, he is someone who cares deeply for the widow; the orphan; the stranger, and is true to the Biblical calling of us to be witnesses to our communities wherever we might be found. I am grateful to the chance to add his voice to the many who have brought this Senate into session, year in, year out, over the centuries, and I’m grateful for his friendship and his leadership in my hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.”

Senator Coons introduces resolution calling for increased international action on the ongoing conflict in Congo

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, introduced a bipartisan resolution Thursday addressing the ongoing unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and urging the United States, the government of the DRC, regional stakeholders, and the international community to take advantage of the most promising opportunity in decades to make meaningful progress toward sustainable peace and political reform there. S. Res. 144 was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).

“America should play a stronger role in the international community’s efforts to achieve peace in the Great Lakes region, to stop the human rights violations being committed against Congolese civilians, and to promote the establishment of a democratic, accountable government in the DRC,” Senator Coons said. “We must put an end to the destruction that is plaguing the Central African nation and bring to justice those who are committing heinous human rights abuses. The Administration should act quickly to appoint a Special Envoy to work with regional governments and international partners to help bring peace and stability to the region.”

The resolution calls on the Obama Administration to appoint a Special Envoy to:

• Support and strengthen international effort to end conflict in the region; support accountability and justice for human rights violations;
• Expand efforts to develop conflict-free and responsible mining practices;
• Coordinate with international and regional partners to ensure unhindered access to life-saving humanitarian assistance;
• Strengthen the commitment by the DRC and regional actors to end the threat posed by armed groups in the region; and
• Mobilize and lend support to electoral reforms in the DRC with the goal of encouraging free, fair and credible elections in the near-term.

The resolution also calls on countries in the region to end support for non-state armed groups and to cooperate to end illicit trade in conflict minerals, wildlife, and wildlife parts.

Since April 2012, more than 650,000 people have been displaced by violence perpetuated by the M23 rebel group in North Kivu province, which has allegedly benefitted from the support of neighboring states.  The crisis triggered by the M23 exacerbated human suffering in this war-torn region of Africa, where sexual and gender based violence, as well as conflict minerals, have fueled decades of conflict  driven by a vacuum of proper governance.  Estimates show that more than 5.4 million people died from war-related causes in the DRC between 1998-2007 alone, making it the world’s deadliest documented conflict since World War II.  At the national level, political instability in DRC persists in the aftermath of problematic and disputed elections in 2011. 

Senator Coons chaired a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs in April to study opportunities for the U.S. and the international community to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the DRC.

To download the resolution, which has been referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for consideration, click here: http://www.coons.senate.gov/download/drc-resolution

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Delaware craft brewer briefs senators on importance of industry to the economy

WASHINGTON – Jim Lutz, president and CEO of Coastal Brewing Company in Dover, joined U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) for a roundtable discussion in the Capitol on Thursday on ideas for helping small breweries expand and create jobs. The meeting, which featured leaders from 14 small breweries around the country, was hosted by the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee to mark American Craft Beer Week.

With the Senate working on a solution that reduces the excise tax on each barrel of beer brewed by small brewers — the Small BREW Act — today’s discussion was critical to the Senate’s efforts to hear insights from business leaders in the craft beer industry. Industry growth in 2013 was up 15 percent by volume and 17 percent by dollars compared to growth in 2011 of 13 percent by volume and 15 percent by dollars. Craft brewers are credited with sales of an estimated $10.2 billion in 2012, up from $8.7 billion in 2011. Craft brewers currently employ more than 108,000 people in America.

“American craft breweries have proven to be successful small businesses that create jobs and help fuel our economy,” Senator Coons said. “It’s important that we provide incentives for these businesses to expand. Coastal Brewing Company is an example of how a passion for brewing beer can go from a weekend hobby to a thriving business. I thank Jim Lutz for participating in today’s meeting and sharing his insights on how the government can work to boost brewers across the country.”

“As small brewers, we appreciate the work that our legislators put into leveling the playing field,” Jim Lutz, President and CEO of Coastal Brewing Company, said.  “Their vigilance assures us access to unrecognized business opportunities, allowing us to reinvest our resources in the local economy.”

The discussion comes on the heels of the introduction of the Small BREW Act — the Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce Act — which was introduced last Thursday and would reduce the excise tax on each barrel of beer brewed by small brewers. Senator Coons and Senator Tom Carper are co-sponsors of the bill.

Under current law, brewers generally pay an $18 excise tax on each barrel brewed.  Small brewers, currently defined as those that brew fewer than 2 million barrels of beer a year, pay a reduced excise tax of $7 per barrel for the first 60,000 barrels of beer they brew each year. The Small BREW Act would reduce the excise tax applicable to brewers producing up to 6 million barrels per year to just $3.50 on the first 60,000 barrels and $16 on additional barrels below 2 million per year.

The Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee is dedicated to fostering dialogue between Senate Democrats and community leaders from across the nation. Each year, the Steering Committee hosts several meetings with advocates, policy experts, and elected officials to discuss key priorities and enlist their help in the development of the Democratic agenda in the Senate.

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State Senator Poore tells U.S. Senate panel about effective strategies for government reorganization

WASHINGTON – Delaware State Senator Nicole Poore (D-12) testified before a hearing of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee’s Government Performance Task Force on Thursday, briefing senators on Delaware’s efforts to streamline redundant programs to save tax dollars. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), who is a member of the task force, was an active part of Thursday’s hearing, which explored strategies for streamlining redundant federal programs.

Senator Poore, who chairs Delaware’s Joint Sunset Committee, described the history, processes, and outcomes of the work done by the Committee.  Created in 1979, the Sunset Committee is a bicameral, bipartisan Committee in the Delaware State Legislature designed to promote government efficiency and effectiveness.  Since its inception, the committee has performed 241 sunset reviews, evaluating and analyzing approximately 120 state agencies.  For example, in 2008, the Joint Sunset Committee worked with boards and commissions staff in the governor’s office to terminate 19 inactive gubernatorial boards, councils, and commissions. 

Media resources from today’s U.S. Senate Budget Committee Task Force hearing are posted below.

YouTube:

Click here to watch a State Senator Nicole Poore’s opening remarks from today’s hearing: http://youtu.be/nvBS3RKDbgg

Click here to watch Senator Coons question State Senator Nicole Poore during today’s hearing: http://youtu.be/fazfcaUixNg

MP3:

Click here to listen to Senator Coons’ opening remarks during today’s hearing: http://1.usa.gov/184dOfV

Click here to listen to State Senator Poore’s opening remarks during today’s hearing: http://1.usa.gov/17Apjy2

Photos:

Click here to download photos from today’s hearing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/senatorchriscoons

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Senator Coons helps introduce bipartisan bill to confront rise in sexual assaults in military

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) teamed up with a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives to introduce legislation Thursday that would reform the military justice system by removing the prosecution of all crimes punishable by one year or more in confinement from the chain of command, except crimes that are uniquely military in nature, such as disobeying orders or going Absent Without Leave.

According to the FY2012 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) report released last week by the Defense Department, an estimated 26,000 cases of sexual assault occurred in FY2012, a 37 percent increase from FY2011. Another report released by the Defense Department late last month showed that more than 1 in 5 female servicemembers reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact while serving in the military.

“The disturbing rise in sexual assaults in our armed forces is simply unacceptable and absolutely cannot be tolerated,” Senator Coons said. “The Pentagon has to do a better job of preventing these criminal acts — and they are criminal — and that starts with making sure that everyone who wears a uniform knows that not only is sexual abuse unacceptable, but that there will be real repercussions for it. This legislation will put people who are trained and skilled at administering justice in charge of how accusations of sexual assault are handled in our armed forces.”

The Military Justice Improvement Act would for the first time remove the decision whether to take a case to special or general court-martial completely out of the chain of command and give that discretion to experienced military prosecutors for all crimes punishable by one year or more in confinement, except crimes that are uniquely military in nature, such as disobeying orders or going AWOL.

Many of our allied modern militaries have reporting outside of the chain of command, such as Britain, Canada, Israel, Germany, Norway and Australia. For example, the British military has prosecutors making trial decisions for all crimes through the Service Prosecuting Authority within Britain’s Ministry of Defense.

The Military Justice Improvement Act also:

• Codifies Secretary Hagel’s proposed changes to the UCMJ’s Article 60 so that the convening authority may not (a) set aside a guilty finding or (b) change a finding of guilty to a lesser included offense.  The legislation further alters Article 60 to require the convening authority to prepare a written justification for any changes made to court-martial sentences.
• Provides the offices of the military chiefs of staff with the authority and discretion to establish courts, empanel juries and choose judges to hear cases (i.e. convening authority).
• This legislation does not amend Article 15. Commanding officers will still be able to order non-judicial punishment for offenses not directed to trial by the prosecutors.

The bill’s bipartisan sponsors, including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), and Representatives Dan Benishek (R-MI-01) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI-02), and others, were joined by victims of sexual assault in the military and organizations who assist victims of Military Sexual Trauma at a press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday to announce the legislation.

“America is home to the world’s best and brightest, brave men and women who join the armed services for all the right reasons – to serve our country, defend all that we hold sacred, and make America’s military the best the world has ever known,” Senator Gillibrand said. “But too often, these brave men and women find themselves in the fight of their lives not off on some far-away battlefield, but right here on our own soil, within their own ranks and commanding officers, as victims of horrific acts of sexual violence. Our bipartisan bill takes this issue head on by removing decision-making from the chain of command, and giving that discretion to experienced trial counsel with prosecutorial experience where it belongs. That’s how we will achieve accountability, justice and fairness.”

“To be sure, the vast, overwhelming majority of our military personnel are honorable, conscientious, and respectful individuals, not rapists or harassers.  It is for their sake that the pattern of covering up, blaming the victim, and failing to provide even the most basic protections that has been all too common for far too long must end,” Senator Collins said.  “We must continue to work to ensure that no woman or man who joins the military is denied the justice and the protections available to civilians.  Ultimately, the military’s policy of zero tolerance for sexual harassment and assault must become a culture of zero tolerance to prevent these crimes from occurring in the first place.”

“I’m volcanic about sexual assault in our military ranks. From Tailhook to Fort Hood, sexual assault is not an isolated incident, it is a systemic and persistent problem,” Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said. “It’s time for real action. This legislation will help change the culture in our fighting forces. It will ensure that victims of sexual assault are not victimized again by commanders that looks the other way. Our fighting women and men in uniform need to know they have a government and leadership on their side, and that sexual assault, rape and abuse will not be tolerated.”

“Last week’s Pentagon report was a massive wake-up call that compels us to meaningfully re-examine how we prevent sexual assaults within the military and help victims of military sexual trauma,” said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “We support Senator Gillibrand’s common sense proposal. IAVA will continue to work with members from both parties to strengthen our efforts to combat military sexual assaults and support victims, including tens of thousands of servicemembers who have sexual trauma claims trapped in the VA backlog.”

Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish said, “Commanders must no longer be permitted to interfere with victim reporting and judicial proceedings. Fifty-percent of victims report the perpetrator is of higher rank and 23% of victims’ report the perpetrator is in their chain of command. The reforms put forth in this bill are crucial to protecting victims from bias and intimidation, and will give them a fighting chance to achieve justice and prevent further attacks. The authority to decide which cases go to trial, and to determine the ultimate outcome of a court-martial, must be taken out of the chain of command. Protect Our Defenders applauds Senator Gillibrand, Senator Boxer, Senator Collins and all the other elected officials that have supported this legislation for their leadership.”

According to the FY2012 SAPRO report released last week by the Defense Department, an estimated 26,000 cases of sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact occurred in FY2012, a 37 percent increase from FY2011. Meanwhile, overall rates of reporting dropped from 13.5 percent in 2011 to 9.8 percent in 2012. In 2011, victims reported 3,192 out of 19,000 incidents, compared to 2012, where victims reported just 3,374 out of 26,000 incidents. While the number of perpetrators convicted of committing a sexual assault increased from 191 in 2011 to 238 in 2012, the conviction rate dropped from 1 percent in 2011 to 0.9 percent in 2012.

Of the 3,374 total reports in 2012, 2,558 reports were unrestricted, which means they were actionable. Of those unrestricted reports, 27 percent were for rape, 35 percent were for abusive and wrongful sexual contact, and 28 percent were for aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault.  The remaining cases were for aggravated sexual contact, nonconsensual sodomy, indecent assault and attempts to commit those offenses.

Also according to the FY2012 SAPRO report, across the Services, 74 percent of females and 60 percent of males perceived one or more barriers to reporting sexual assault. 62 percent of victims who reported a sexual assault indicated they perceived some form of professional, social, and/or administrative retaliation.

In a separate report released late last month by the Department of Defense, the Health-Related Behaviors Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel for 2011 showed that more than 1 in 5 female servicemembers reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact while serving in the military.

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Senator Coons, Ducks Unlimited state chairman participate in roundtable discussion on conservation and preservation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, participated in a roundtable discussion on Wednesday on ideas for conserving habitat, improving access to public lands and waters, and teaching America’s youth about hunting, fishing, and getting them outdoors. The meeting was hosted by the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee and focused on the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, the Sportsmen Act, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the duck stamp, and other programs and policies that will help ensure future generations of Americans can enjoy the great outdoors. The forum was attended by a dozen conservation organizations representing thousands of sportsmen and women, including Louis Caputo, Jr., state chairman of Delaware Ducks Unlimited.

Coming on the heels of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s overwhelming bipartisan approval of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, Senate Democrats highlighted the bill’s conservation title, which reforms and strengthens programs that protect and improve wildlife habitat, restore ecosystems, encourage regional partnerships, and preserve our agricultural land.

“It is critical that we continue to invest in conserving wildlife habitat for current and future generations of sportsmen,” Senator Coons said. “I am so proud of the work that Ducks Unlimited and other organizations in Delaware are doing to ensure that we are protecting Delaware’s magnificent landscapes, and hunting and fishing heritage. I want to thanks Lou Caputo for coming to today’s meeting and sharing his views on the importance of federal programs like NAWCA in Delaware and the impact they have in our state. More than 6,000 Delawareans are members of Ducks Unlimited and they take great pride in ensuring that the land they fish, hunt, and hike on will remain protected for their children and grandchildren.”

Hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation are critical to the country’s economy with the thousands of jobs and a multi-billion dollar economic impact, and today’s meeting served as an opportunity for the Senate and organizations in attendance to jointly agree on the need to move bipartisan, conservation and sportsmen legislation in this Congress.

“In my opinion, we are at a crossroads in this country and we all need to work toward and help to implement comprehensive federal legislation that will insure that conservation programs exist for wetlands, grasslands and other habitats especially on working agricultural lands that will ultimately benefit wildlife, farmers and ranchers, our children and all of our citizens,” Louis Caputo, Jr., state chairman of Delaware Ducks Unlimited, said. “I would also ask that we give attention to our National Park System, National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests and other federal lands in the U.S. Many families enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of these lands as vacation destinations. We need to support and conserve all of these habitats and places in the U.S. while accommodating agriculture and energy production for our citizens. I wish to thank the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee for taking the time today to listen to each of us that presented our views on conservation and sportsmen’s issues. This meeting provided me the opportunity to speak about my thoughts, wishes and goals for and about a country that is so beautiful and rich in natural resources. Through the collaboration and hard work from all of us we will together preserve and protect our great outdoors for future generations to come.”

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control also announced Wednesday a $1 million federal grant to protect more than 800 acres of valuable coastal lands in the Delaware Bayshore. The funding was through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which will be used, with $2.1 million in matching funds from the state Open Space Program, conservation groups, including Ducks Unlimited, and other private contributors, to acquire property along the Bayshore in Kent County.  

America’s outdoor enthusiasts are an integral component in the country’s economic engine, injecting billions of dollars annually into the economy and accounting for one percent of the gross domestic product.  Hunting and fishing are on the rise in America. From 2006 to 2011, hunting was up nine percent and fishing is up 11 percent, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Over 90 million Americans age 16 and older participated in some recreational activity related to fish and wildlife.  Of those 90 million people who participated in wildlife-related recreation, nearly 37.4 million fished or hunted. While doing so, they spent more than $89.8 billion on equipment, trip expenses, licenses, fees and other miscellaneous goods.  Equipment purchases accounted for $43.2 billion and trip expenses for $32.2 billion. Sales of licenses and other goods totaled $14.3 billion. On average, each sportsperson spent $2,407 in 2011.  

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Statement from Senator Coons on alleged IRS targeting

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement Monday after reports that the Internal Revenue Service had improperly targeted tax-exempted 501(c)(4) groups with the words “tea party,” “patriot” and “9/12” in their name.

“Reports of politically biased targeting within the Internal Revenue Service are deeply disturbing and should be treated seriously and decisively. These accusations are outrageous and cannot be tolerated. Ideological discrimination is absolutely unacceptable and those responsible for it — including those who were aware of it and allowed it to happen — should be held accountable.”

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