Senator Coons tells Delaware Anti-Hunger Coalition about commitment to protecting federal funding for hunger programs

NEWARK, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, told more than 250 anti-hunger advocates gathered for a conference Monday that he would continue to stand up for Delawareans who are struggling to make ends meet as Congress looks for ways to reduce the federal government’s dangerous deficits.

“Even in times of tight budgets and program cuts, we have a moral obligation to put a circle of protection around the most vulnerable of our neighbors,” Senator Coons said. “In 2013, in the richest country in the world, in a state that grows some of the healthiest produce and poultry in the country, it is unacceptable that thousands of Delawareans go to sleep at night not sure where their next meal will come from. Out of America’s abundance, we can find the time and the effort and the energy to come together and to meet the needs of the hungry.”

Senator Coons has supported a balanced approach to deficit reduction that does not rely exclusively on cuts to discretionary programs — including anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs — to find savings. Last month he voted on a budget that responsibly reduced our nation’s deficit while making investments in America’s long-term competitiveness and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.

“It is hard for me to accept that there are some in Congress who don’t see this as a moral challenge for our country,” Senator Coons said. “Teachers know, parents know — all of us know — that a child who begins their school day hungry doesn’t focus on their lesson, doesn’t absorb what their supposed to learn, is much more likely to be a problem in the classroom, and is much less likely to be able to grow, achieve, and to dream big.” 

In contrast, the budget passed by the House of Representatives cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 34 percent over the next five years. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported that, “SNAP cuts of the magnitude that the Ryan budget proposes would almost certainly lead to increases in hunger and poverty.” The non-profit Bread for the World described the proposed cuts as “devastating,” despite “unprecedented levels of need.”

Monday’s all-day conference, Ending Hunger! (Through Citizen Service), was organized by the Delaware Anti-Hunger Coalition and sponsored by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. Held at the Christiana Hilton in Newark, it focused on ways to increase access to and participation in children’s nutrition programs, innovative strategies for providing more nutritious foods and recruiting and applying volunteer talent.

“A day focused on ending hunger is important in Delaware where we rank number three in the nation for highest percentage of residents who cannot afford food,” Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Patricia Beebe said. “From advocacy and policy efforts to school-based child nutrition and government nutrition programs, the day will feature information for all interested in playing an active role in ending hunger. The programs are available to end hunger in the First State; we now just need the will of the community.”

The Delaware Anti-Hunger Coalition is comprised of representatives from the nonprofit, business, government, education, faith-based and agricultural sectors. The Coalition works to identify goals, objectives and measurements and make significant contributions towards alleviating, and in many cases eliminating, hunger in the state of Delaware.

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Durbin, Boozman and Coons introduce bill to increase US exports to Africa

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Boozman (R-AR) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced legislation today that will help create American jobs by dramatically increasing the number of U.S. exports to Africa. The bill also aims to improve America’s competiveness throughout the continent by forcing better coordination between U.S. government agencies and departments, establishing comprehensive strategic goals, and marshaling private investments to improve U.S.-Africa business activities. 

“Increasingly I am hearing: ‘the U.S. has given up on Africa as a market.’ While we’re building institutions, China and others are building markets and we’re being left behind,” Senator Durbin said. “This bill will put the restoration of American competiveness in Africa at the forefront of our business and development goals. It will give American businesses the tools they need to do business in Africa, create jobs at home, and help ensure America is seen as a leader in a rapidly changing part of the world.”

“When we talk about job creation, free and fair trade is a vital component to a successful plan. An effective trade strategy with African nations will help us significantly add jobs here at home. The eagerness and willingness to be good trade partners on the part of African nations is there. The desire for American products, along with our ideals, is strong. The only thing missing is a cohesive strategy on our end. That is what we are aiming to create with this legislation,” Senator Boozman said.

“Significantly increasing U.S. exports to Africa will help create American jobs and keep us competitive in the global market,” Senator Coons said. “This important legislation cites and builds on a report I recently released with concrete recommendations to help us implement a smarter, more cohesive strategy for broad and deep U.S. engagement with Africa in the public and the private sectors. Economic engagement with Africa is essential in today’s global economy. In fact, it is a race for access to the fastest-growing markets anywhere in the world ­ and that’s a race I want the United States to win. I look forward to working with Senator Durbin and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, in the Senate and the House, to ensure we pass this important bill.”

Africa’s expanding middle class provides a large and growing market for American products and the continent’s increasing urbanization calls for investments in rapidly expanding infrastructure projects. Sub-Saharan Africa alone is projected to be home to seven of the ten fastest growing economies over the next five years. But other nations have beaten us to the punch, aggressively investing in the continent to ensure their businesses have first access to markets.

Between 2008 and 2010, China provided more loans to the developing world than the World Bank — totaling more than $110 billion.  In 2009, China surpassed the United States as the African continent’s largest trading partner and in the next decade it is poised to invest internationally as much as $2 trillion. Members of the European Union and countries like India, Turkey, Russia and Brazil are all expanding their economic presence in Africa, with many also offering concessional (below market) loans, further undercutting American competiveness. All this while the Department of Commerce is cutting staff based in Africa and the Export-Import Bank continues to operate without a permanent presence on the continent.

The U.S.’s continued failure to develop a coherent strategy to compete in Africa is hurting both American business interests, American workers and our political influence in the region.

The tools available to the United States to competitively compete in Africa are scattered, difficult to access, and not effectively coordinated.  The Durbin-Boozman-Coons bill will force a coordinated focus on increasing exports to Africa by making the following improvements:

• Develop a comprehensive strategy to create American jobs by increasing exports of US goods and services to Africa by at least 200 percent in real dollar value over the next ten years.

• Create a Special White House Africa Strategy coordinator to ensure government agencies are maximizing resources to help U.S. companies expand into African markets. 

• Coordinate the Export-Import Bank, State Department, Department of Commerce, Small Business Administration, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee efforts to more effectively promote U.S. business exports to Africa.

• Establish and or maintain Export Import Bank and Department of Commerce trade staff full time on the African continent to help U.S. businesses.

• Formalize training received by U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service officers and Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development economic officer on key programs and procedures of the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

• Raise limits on Export Import Bank loans available to U.S. businesses to directly combat Chinese concessional loans. This proposal is revenue-neutral as the Export-Import Bank is a profitable, self-financing agency. 

• Further Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s efforts to foster U.S. business access to African markets. This provision is also revenue-neutral as OPIC is a profitable self-financing agency. 

A similar bill was introduced in both the House and Senate last Congress. The Senate bill was also approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last year.

Durbin is the Assistant Majority Leader of the Senate and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Boozman is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and a member of its Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion. Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on African Affairs.

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Leahy and Coons reintroduce legislation to encourage the humanitarian work of American innovators

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Committee member Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) reintroduced legislation Thursday that encourages the use of patented technology to address humanitarian needs. The bill strengthens an awards program created last year by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Patents for Humanity Program, which recognizes patent holders who use their technology to improve the quality of life in impoverished countries.

Leahy also joined with Acting USPTO Director Teresa Stanek Rea today to recognize the first award-winners under the Patents for Humanity initiative.  For their work, recipients of this award are granted faster processing of certain USPTO matters. 

“In my time in the Senate, I have worked to promote policies that encourage intellectual property holders to apply their work to address global humanitarian challenges,” said Leahy, who with Coons introduced similar legislation last year. “Today, I am pleased to join with Senator Coons in reintroducing the Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act to again advance such policies.”

Coons said “The Patents for Humanity program is a terrific opportunity for enterprising innovators to make a real difference in the world.”

“As we continue the important task of modernizing our nation’s patent system, this bill would expand the program’s value by incentivizing first-time inventors and researchers to confront the humanitarian challenges of our time,” Coons added. “I thank Chairman Leahy for his sustained leadership on this and other intellectual property issues, and look forward to working with him to help this good idea become law.”

Senator Coons praises introduction of marriage equality bill in Delaware General Assembly

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and an original cosponsor of the federal legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, today congratulated lawmakers in Dover on the introduction of HB 75, the Civil Marriage Equality and Religious Freedom Act of 2013. The bill extends the freedom to marry to same-sex couples and ensures that same-sex married couples have the same protections and obligations as opposite-sex married couples.

“Every Delawarean deserves access to the full rights and responsibilities of marriage, no matter their sexual orientation,” Senator Coons said. “This is a truly exciting day for our state. While the nation holds its breath as the Supreme Court considers overturning the federal ban on same-sex marriage, I’m proud that Delaware is moving forward. The freedom to marry the one you love is an idea whose time has come. It’s time for marriage equality in Delaware. Speaker Schwartzkopf, Rep. Smith, and Senator Blevins should be congratulated on their commitment to ensuring this bill will be considered by the General Assembly, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure it becomes law.”

Yesterday, Senator Coons and the president of Equality Delaware, Lisa Goodman, briefed Democratic senators in the Capitol on Wednesday on Delaware’s campaign to offer full marriage equality to its citizens. The briefing was part of a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting with national leaders from the LGBT community.

“We’ve reached this point in no small part because of the work of Equality Delaware and its supporters around the state,” Senator Coons said. “They have my full support and will have my continued partnership as the bill makes its way through the Assembly. ”

Senator Coons is a strong supporter of civil rights and LGBT equality. He is a cosponsor of the legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, as well as the Student Non-Discrimination Act, Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Uniting American Families Act, Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act, Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act.

Last week, the Senator published an op-ed on HuffingtonPost.com making the case for Delaware’s marriage equality campaign. Read it here: http://huff.to/12ok3Mn

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President’s budget includes $20 million for Delaware River dredging

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), an outspoken advocate for the Port of Wilmington and the jobs it creates for Delawareans, announced on Wednesday that President Obama’s budget proposal will include a total of $20 million in funding for fiscal year 2014 to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel, which will help bring more ships and business to the port. Senator Coons has long championed this important investment and urged the administration to include this funding in their budget proposal.

“Delaware’s maritime trade supports our state’s economy by expanding commerce and creating high-quality jobs,” Senator Coons said. “I applaud President Obama for recognizing the important role the Port of Wilmington and the Delaware River have on our region and our economy. While progress has been made in deepening of the Delaware River, there’s a lot of work that still remains to be done to complete the project. I pledge to continue to fight for adequate federal funding for this project, and to stand up for the Port of Wilmington and maritime trade in our state.” 

Deepening the Delaware River channel from 40 to 45 feet in order to accommodate larger vessels will reduce shipping costs and make maritime transportation more efficient, bring more trade to our region, attract private investment, and ensure that our region will remain competitive in the global marketplace.  Deeping the river is expected to create an estimated 75,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the Delaware Valley. This includes permanent, high-paying jobs as well as short-term construction jobs that will aid an industry hit hard by the economic downturn.

“This project is critical to commerce, and is the stimulus that will create upwards of $1 billion of investment in port infrastructure projects here on the Delaware River,” Dennis Rochford, president of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, said. “Further, this project preserves the approximately 135,000 existing direct and indirect port related jobs, and has the future potential to create up to 75,000 good-paying, blue-collar, family-sustaining jobs. Today’s announcement is the result of sustained cooperation and leadership among local, state and Federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Senator Coons has been a tireless advocate for the deepening of the Delaware, and he is to be applauded for his unwavering support of our regional maritime community on any host of issues affecting Delaware River ports. We are thankful to Senator Coons for working with us to move this project forward, thereby ensuring that the Delaware River region remains competitive with other East Coast ports, and has the opportunity to capitalize on the expanded trade that will occur as a result of the soon to be completed Panama Canal expansion.”

Senator Coons has been a leader in the fight to secure federal funding for the deepening project. Working closely with business, labor, and river operator leaders in Delaware, as well as Governor Markell, Senator Carper, and Congressman Carney, Senator Coons delivered a consistent and strong message to the administration on the importance of this project to our state and the need to maintain federal funding for it. Senator Coons also worked closely with Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to deliver the message that this project has also benefits Pennsylvania and our region more broadly.

“On behalf of the Diamond State Port Corporation, its board and the thousands of men and women who work at this port and of those whose jobs are dependent to the continued success of the Port of Wilmington, I would like to thank President Obama for his continued commitment to and financial support of the Delaware River main channel deepening project,” Eugene Bailey, executive director of the Port of Wilmington, said.  “A 45-foot channel affords the Port of Wilmington transformative growth opportunities for the future, and it will serve as a catalyst for increased trade and substantial job growth on Delaware’s marine highway.”

Senator Coons is encouraged by the funding for the deepening project in the President’s proposed budget for FY 2014, and is hopeful that this commitment to the project will also be demonstrated in the forthcoming work plan for the Army Corps for the remainder of FY 2013.

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Senator Coons and president of Equality Delaware brief senators on marriage equality campaign

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and the president of Equality Delaware, Lisa Goodman, briefed Democratic senators in the Capitol on Wednesday on Delaware’s campaign to offer full marriage equality to its citizens. The briefing was part of a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting with national leaders from the LGBT community.

“Every Delawarean deserves access to the full rights and responsibilities of marriage, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Senator Coons said. “In Delaware, we’re closer than ever to being able to make good on that promise thanks, in large part, to the work of Equality Delaware and its supporters around the state. I wanted my colleagues to hear about the important work Equality Delaware is doing and to know how close we are to winning full marriage equality. I’m grateful that Lisa made the trip to Washington today and look forward to continuing to work with Equality Delaware.”

“I was honored to attend the meeting of the Committee to discuss the marriage equality campaign in Delaware,” Lisa Goodman, president of Equality Delaware, said. “We are feeling great momentum in Delaware for marriage equality and are looking forward to a bill introduction. Equality Delaware’s team and hundreds of volunteers across the state are working to make sure legislators understand that Delawareans support the freedom to marry.”

Equality Delaware is the statewide organization working to ensure and promote dignity, safety, and equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Delawareans. Equality Delaware — along with local advocates and coalition partners — successfully advocated for the passage of a civil union bill. It is currently campaigning for full marriage equality in Delaware.

Senator Coons is a strong supporter of civil rights and LGBT equality. He is a cosponsor of the legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, as well as the Student Non-Discrimination Act, Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Uniting American Families Act, Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act, Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act.

Last week, the senator published an op-ed on HuffingtonPost.com making the case for Delaware’s marriage equality campaign. Read it here: http://huff.to/12ok3Mn

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Statement from Senator Coons on the President’s budget proposal

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement Wednesday on President Obama’s budget proposal:

“At its heart, any budget is a reflection of priorities, and the President’s plan does the right thing by prioritizing economic growth and job creation in the short term, as well as economic competitiveness in the long term. The budget passed by the Senate also focused on these priorities, and took a balanced and responsible approach to solving our nation’s fiscal challenges while protecting the most vulnerable in our society.

“I will now carefully review the details of the President’s proposal, but broadly, his plan takes a balanced approach by including a mix of revenue increases and tough spending cuts. It builds on the real progress we have already made — $2.4 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years — to take us over the $4 trillion in deficit reduction that independent economists and bipartisan experts broadly agree we need.

“The President’s proposal also includes key Delaware priorities, including further dredging of the Delaware River, which will benefit the Port of Wilmington and the businesses who ship through it, and bonds to help harness private capital for infrastructure projects. It also makes permanent important tax incentives for research and development, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

“The President’s budget also includes some difficult choices on entitlement reform, which he has admitted were not his preference, but were offered in the spirit of compromise. In a compromise, everyone has to accept some things they don’t like, and if we are not willing to do that, we are not truly willing to tackle the significant budgetary challenges we face.

“Putting a circle of protection around the most vulnerable in our society – including children, the lowest-income Americans, and our seniors – is a fundamental value, one that is rooted in my faith tradition and my deepest convictions about what makes us Americans. When it comes to entitlement reform, we have to strengthen and protect these programs to ensure they will be there for the next generation, and put protections in place for the most vulnerable seniors. In the Budget Committee and on the Senate floor, I voted against any budget amendment that would have dismantled Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security by turning them into voucher programs or block grants. These vital programs ensure seniors who have worked hard all their lives have the dignified retirement they have earned, and provide a vital safety net for children, the disabled, and the lowest-income Americans.

“I have already heard from Delawareans up and down the state through visits, emails, calls and letters, and look forward to continuing to connect and proactively engage to hear more about Delawareans’ views and priorities when it comes to getting our debt and deficit under control while growing our economy and creating jobs.”

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Senator Coons calls for passage of mental health legislation as part of gun safety package

WASHINGTON – National veterans’ organizations joined U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and 12 of his colleagues on Tuesday in calling for passage of the Excellence in Mental Health Act, which would expand access to treatment and improve the quality of care at Community Mental Health Centers, and puts mental health services on more equal footing with physical health services.  Due to the additional importance of mental health services in curbing gun violence, the measure will be added as an amendment to upcoming legislation on reducing gun violence.

One in four veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will need mental health treatment of some kind, and Community Mental Health Centers are expected to soon be serving over 200,000 veterans.  Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day in the United States.

“Often our service members have to endure not only physical challenges, but mental challenges during their service, and it’s imperative that we provide our veterans with access to mental health services to help them transition back into civilian life,” Senator Coons said. “The Excellence in Mental Health Act will help expand the resources available to veterans and civilians who are battling with mental illness. Access to these services will encourage members of our military and their families to seek the treatment they need to live a happy and healthy life.”

“It will be 10 years this October since I came home from overseas, but the experiences live inside of me like it was yesterday,” Operation Enduring Freedom veteran Jennifer Crane said. “I suffer from Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My life will never be perfect but with the help that has been provided to me, I can truly begin to live life again. The Excellence in Mental Health Act has the ability to open up hope and help to our country, its veterans and civilians alike.”

“Within our military and our American society at large, it is critical that we reduce the stigma attached to seeking behavioral health care,” Justin Constantine of the Wounded Warriors Project and Iraq Veteran said. “Seeking the help you need and deserve is a sign of strength, not weakness, and shows maturity and confidence.  Making mental health care options available on a large scale is a huge step in the right direction.  The bipartisan Excellence in Medical Health Act does just that by expanding access and improving the quality of care.”

Studies show that individuals with a serious mental illness are actually more likely to be a victim of violence than a perpetrator.  However, there are too many times when lack of diagnosis and effective treatment has led to horrible tragedies.

According to a national survey, one-third of the 4.8 million people suffering from mood disorders do not receive treatment, and fewer than half of the people with severe mental disorders receive treatment of any kind in a given year. 

The Excellence in Mental Health Act helps up to 1.5 million Americans get the treatment they need.  The bill helps ensure community mental health centers provide high quality care, including 24-hour crisis care; increased integration of physical, mental and substance abuse treatment so they are treated simultaneously rather than separately; and expanded support for families of people living with mental health issues. The legislation also authorizes the modernization of existing Community Mental Health Centers and the construction of new centers.

A bipartisan group of senators introduced the Excellence in Mental Health Act in February.  In addition to Senator Coons, cosponsors of the bill include: Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo,), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska). Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

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President’s science advisors call for parity in clean energy financing

WASHINGTON – The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has recommended to President Obama that the country should “level the playing field for clean energy and energy efficiency technologies” by, among other things, bringing parity to the master limited partnership (MLP) business structure. The recommendation mirrors the bipartisan Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act, which U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced in 2012.

“The all-of-the-above energy strategy so many in Washington support will require a tax code that gives clean energy technologies the same advantages the oil and gas industries have gained over many decades,” Senator Coons said. “Bringing parity to master limited partnerships has found real support in Congress, in the Administration, and in the energy, environmental, and financial sectors. PCAST’s recommendation is consistent with statements from former Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and others in the Administration who believe that leveling the playing field for innovative new energy technologies is the only way to achieve the all-of-the-above energy strategy our country needs.”

A master limited partnership is a business structure that is taxed as a partnership, but whose ownership interests are traded like corporate stock on a market. By statute, MLPs have only been available to investors in energy portfolios for oil, natural gas, coal extraction, and pipeline projects. These projects get access to capital at a lower cost and are more liquid than traditional financing approaches to capital-intensive energy projects, making them highly effective at attracting private investment. Investors in renewable energy projects, however, have been explicitly prevented from forming MLPs, starving a growing portion of America’s domestic energy sector of the capital it needs to build and grow.

PCAST’s recommendations, which were released late last month, came in the form of a letter to President Obama available for download as a PDF here: http://1.usa.gov/105KPn1

“When you met with your Council of Advisors on Science and Technology at the end of November,” the 16 scientists wrote, “you noted that your Administration was in the process of developing a strategy for addressing climate change during your second term and you asked for our input. In this letter, we suggest six key components for consideration that we deem central to your climate change strategy and policy.”

Recommendation Three urges the President to “level the playing field” for clean-energy and energy-efficiency technologies. Specifically:

Level the playing field on access to capital through special tax benefits. Conventional energy projects have better access to low-cost capital than renewable energy projects. As with many energy projects, the cost of financing for renewable energy projects makes up a significant portion of their overall cost, and lower financing costs in the marketplace could help encourage the development of renewables. Preferred tax status through investment vehicles such as Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have benefitted conventional energy projects but are not currently available to renewable projects. Rulings by the Department of the Treasury may suffice to confer such status in some cases, but Congressional action will be required in others. We suggest that the Administration reexamine the options to make it easier to finance renewable energy projects.

In December, a bipartisan group of 31 senators and representatives urged President Obama to make MLPs and Real Estate Investment Trusts a priority.

“Opening MLPs and REITs to renewable energy would level the playing field by giving renewables the same access to low-cost capital enjoyed by oil, gas, coal and transmission infrastructure projects,” the lawmakers wrote. “Small tweaks to the tax code could attract billions of dollars in private sector investment to renewable energy deployment, reduce the cost of renewable electricity by up to one third, and dramatically broaden the base of eligible investors. In fact, bipartisan legislation has already been introduced in both the House and the Senate (H.R. 6437 and S. 3275 respectively) to allow renewable energy projects to raise low-cost capital through the MLP structure. In the case of REITs, a straightforward ruling by the Treasury Department would allow access to this investment vehicle for renewable energy projects.”

More about that letter is available here: http://1.usa.gov/YZZbcS

Senators Coons and Moran will reintroduce the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act in the Senate later this month. U.S. Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX-02), Mike Thompson (D-CA-01) and Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) will reintroduce it in the House of Representatives.

A more detailed white paper on the MLP Parity Act can be downloaded here: http://www.coons.senate.gov/download/mlp-white-paper

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Statement of Senator Coons on developments in hunt for Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, issued the following statement in light of developments relating to the multilateral hunt for Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army in Central Africa.

“Joseph Kony and his commanders in the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are war criminals whose heinous acts have wreaked havoc across Central Africa for the last 25 years. It is important that they are brought to justice for unconscionable crimes against humanity, even as the political situation in the Central African Republic has destabilized. It is my hope that Uganda’s suspension of operations in the hunt for Kony and the LRA will be resolved soon and that multilateral operations will quickly resume. Now is not the time to give up the search.

“In expanding its Rewards for Justice program today to include a $5 million reward for the apprehension of Kony and other LRA leaders, the United States has reasserted its commitment to bringing their reign of terror in the region to an end. Last year, I worked with then-Senator John Kerry to pass legislation to expand the Rewards for Justice program to include Joseph Kony and LRA commanders with hopes that financial incentive would increase LRA defections and bolster intelligence guiding the regional hunt. Secretary Kerry’s announcement today that our legislative directive has officially been implemented is particularly well timed.

“Leaders from across Africa and around the world have universally condemned Joseph Kony and the LRA, and today their words must be matched with action. It is my deep hope that the other nations who have contributed forces to the counter-LRA effort keep up the search, and that Ugandan forces are returned to the operation as quickly as possible.”

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