Senator Coons convenes local experts on importance of reauthorizing Violence Against Women Act

NEW CASTLE, Del. — U.S. Senator Chris Coons, co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, hosted a 90-minute roundtable discussion on Tuesday on the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which is being considered by the Senate. The Senator led a discussion at the New Castle County Department of Public Safety building about the tools for stopping domestic violence with a dozen representatives of Delaware’s state, county and local law enforcement agencies, advocacy, community and non-profit organizations, family court, and the Delaware Attorney General’s office. Senator Coons is one of 50 co-sponsors of legislation to reauthorize VAWA, which has come under threat from some Senate Republicans who oppose the measure in its current form.

“The Violence Against Women Act has been extraordinarily effective in preventing and stopping domestic violence, and it can help us do more if Congress is able to reauthorize it,” said Senator Coons.  “The right to live in peace, free from abuse, fear and violence is universal, yet threats to this basic right can be found across lines of race, class and even gender. If we are to protect this right and truly build a climate of security in our homes and communities, these crimes cannot be tolerated. VAWA offers important tools for that effort, and I’m concerned that partisan obstructionism in Washington might take those tools out of our communities.”

Every five years, Congress revisits VAWA to update the law to address evolving needs in the fight against domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  The landmark legislation, which has never before been a partisan issue, provides law enforcement agencies, court personnel, and victim-service providers with tools to help prevent domestic violence homicides by supporting training for those on the front lines of efforts to eliminate domestic violence.  The bill also promotes accountability to ensure that federal funds are used for their intended purposes, and consolidates programs while focusing initiatives that have been the most successful.

“When I served as New Castle County Executive, I saw how important VAWA is to providing our public safety officers with the tools and training they need when addressing incidents of domestic violence,” Senator Coons said.  “Nearly 20 years ago, Joe Biden revolutionized the way law enforcement confronts domestic violence. Since then it has made an important difference in the safety of our communities. VAWA needs to be reauthorized.”

“We must fight to keep this bill in place. VAWA has touched nearly every community in our entire country,” Carol Post, Executive Director of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said.

VAWA was signed into law by President Clinton in 1994, and was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005.  The law’s current authorization expired in September 2011. Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines, 10-8, to advance the current reauthorization out of committee. It now awaits consideration of the full Senate. Click here to read more about the partisan fight over VAWA: http://huff.to/ypDpSq

Senator Coons spoke about the bill on the Senate floor on February 2. Click here to watch or read it: http://bit.ly/zIYpag

Participants in Tuesday’s roundtable included:

• Timothy Brandau, Ph.D., Executive Director of CHILD, Inc.
• Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esq., Family Division of the Delaware Attorney General’s Office
• Commissioner Carl Danberg of the Department of Correction and Vice Chair of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council
• Chief Jeffrey Horvath of the Lewes Police Department and Chairman of the Delaware Police Chiefs Council
• Chief James Hosfelt of the Dover Police Department
• Maria Matos, Executive Director of the Latin American Community Center
• Major Nathaniel McQueen, Executive Staff of the Delaware State Police
• Deanee Moran, Director of the Sexual Assault Network of Delaware
• Carol Post, Executive Director of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Bridget Poulle, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council
• Leann Summa, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs of Family Court
• Lieutenant Teresa Williams of the New Castle County Police Department

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Senators Carper, Coons cosponsor bill to fight rising childhood obesity

WASHINGTON – As the number of children with obesity and weight-related health problems rises, Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) cosponsored legislation this week to help kids develop healthy habits that will serve them well into adulthood.  The Healthy Kids from Day One Act, which was introduced by Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.), would help childcare centers develop programs to get our youngest kids more physically active, eat healthier and spend less time sitting in front of digital screens. 

“With nearly one-third of American children vulnerable to diabetes, heart disease, disability, stroke, and other chronic conditions due to obesity, it is imperative that we do more as a society to encourage healthy lifestyles from an early age,” Senator Carper said. “We all have a role to play in improving health outcomes for future generations by encouraging healthy eating and active lifestyles, and the Healthy Kids from Day One Act helps child-care centers teach our children life-saving habits that can lead to healthier lives. However it’s not just up to child-care centers – parents, businesses, policymakers, educators, and health officials are all key partners in the effort to educate our children about the importance of exercise and good nutrition. By working together, we can strengthen our children’s futures, save lives, and reduce healthcare costs in the long run. I thank Senator Mark Udall for leading this call as well as Delaware’s own Nemours Foundation for its role in pioneering this initiative. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this important bill forward.”

“As a nation, we take pride in investing in our children’s education, but equally as important — and too often overlooked — is the need to invest in our children’s health,” Senator Coons said. “Cultivating healthy lifestyles in America’s youth is most effective when we start teaching them how to live those lifestyles early in life. The Healthy Kids from Day One Act does just that. By having trained professionals reaching young children in their formative years and in a variety of daily settings, we will help reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and raise a healthier generation of Americans.”

One in three kids is either overweight or obese — a remarkable increase from the 4 percent of children in the 1960s and leading to increased frequency of weight-related health issues, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. 

Key elements of the Healthy Kids from Day One Act include:

• Pilot Program: The legislation would create a three-year pilot program in five states to support childcare collaboratives that focus on combating obesity among our youngest children. These collaboratives will work to do the following in childcare settings:

Promote physical activity.

Create healthier eating environments.

Limit the amount of time children spend in front of the TV or other digital screens.

Promote parental engagement.

• Training: The collaboratives bring child-care providers together in structured learning sessions to share strategies and techniques to improve healthy eating and physical activity of children in child-care settings.
• Finding Out What Works: Upon completion of the pilot, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) will use consistent metrics to evaluate the program and report back to Congress. Best practices will be identified, disseminated and encouraged in other existing federal programs.
• Federal Coordination: HHS will ensure this pilot coordinates activities with the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council. This will minimize the duplication of resources and eliminate the need for a new government entity for this program.

The legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Tom Udall (D-NM).

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Senator Coons votes to avert tax increase on millions of middle class families

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement Friday on his vote in favor of the conference report to avert a tax increase on millions of middle class families, continue long-term unemployment insurance for those struggling to find work, and ensure seniors can continue to see their doctors using Medicare:

“I voted today to support a temporary extension of the payroll tax cuts for millions of middle class families because I believe it to be a necessary step for sustaining America’s economic recovery. Non-partisan experts have found the payroll tax cut to be the most effective short-term means at Congress’ disposal for supporting increased demand in the market and sustaining the economic growth we’ve seen these last two years. After 23 straight months of private-sector job growth, now is not the time to cut and run on our nation’s economic recovery.

“My enthusiasm for the package of measures we passed today is tempered by deep disappointment in several aspects of the package that I believe run contrary to our nation’s long-term economic interest. I have serious reservations about the bill’s failure to responsibly ‘pay for’ the tax cut without taking money from the Social Security trust fund, and am determined to see that those funds are replenished. In addition, failure to include a series of tax extenders that would help American manufacturers grow and create jobs was also disappointing. I have heard from several Delaware business leaders over the last few months who have specifically pointed to Congress’ inconsistent and unpredictable support for tax measures that aid the development of clean energy technology has hampered their ability to move forward and create jobs. Had we been given the opportunity to amend the package we voted on today, I would have worked aggressively to include an extension of the Research and Development Tax Credit, which I have introduced twice in the last year. I believe it to be a bad tax policy to tell the companies that we expect to create the next generation of manufacturing jobs in this country that they should trust that we will pass an extension later in the year and make it retroactive.” 

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Senator Coons praises inclusion of funds for public safety communications network in payroll tax cut package

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Law Enforcement Caucus and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the inclusion of provisions in the payroll tax cut extension to create a nationwide, interoperable broadband network for public safety officials. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation shortly after noon on Friday.

By setting aside the D-Block portion of the wireless spectrum for first responders, Congress today is delivering on one of the last outstanding recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report. The report recommended creating a public safety network to allow responders from different agencies to communicate during emergencies.

“Americans are blessed to have talented and dedicated fire, EMS, and police personnel looking out for us,” Senator Coons said. “Until now, though, first responders from different jurisdictions often could not communicate to coordinate a regional response to emergencies. In today’s era of wireless communications, this was a gaping hole in our law enforcement toolkit with real consequences for public safety. By building a dedicated, interoperable public safety network, we provide a critical resource to our law enforcement officers, and we will all be safer because of it.”

Today’s legislation creates a national First Responder Network Authority, funded by a portion of the proceeds from the auction of the underutilized broadcast spectrum. This network will provide police, firefighters, emergency medical services and other public safety officials with access to the spectrum and advanced wireless broadband communications. Uninterrupted communication is essential to public safety in emergency situations. 

In addition, today’s legislation provides funding for other vital public safety research and development, including the deployment of Next Generation 911 services, which would complement the public safety broadband network by allowing citizens to share data such as text, photos and video with 911 call centers.

“These upgrades in technology can save lives,” Senator Coons said. “Giving victims of a crime the ability to send a text message or camera-phone picture to 911 will provide law enforcement with evidence and information in real-time.”

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Local fire departments are reminded to apply for federal SAFER grants

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. John Carney, both members of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, are encouraging local fire departments to apply for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS), FY 2011 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants.  The goal of SAFER is to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies, thus assuring that communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.  Grants support two main activities:  hiring and rehiring firefighters and supporting volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention programs.

“As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I’m committed to ensuring that men and women of our fire and emergency services in Delaware and across the country have a properly trained and functional staff and stay in compliance with national regulations,” Sen. Carper said. “This grant helps the First State’s fire companies maintain the mandatory number of personnel and helps train more firefighters to perform at their very best during times of crisis.”

“First responders put their lives on the line in order to protect the communities in which they serve; and we need to do all that we can to give them the tools and resources they need to do their jobs as safely as possible,” said Senator Coons.  “I am encouraging local fire departments to apply for SAFER grants in an effort to increase the number of firefighters responding to fire and fire-related hazards, and also to retain existing firefighters who we have come to depend on.”

“Delaware firefighters show tremendous courage, professionalism, and dedication to protecting our communities,” said Congressman Carney.  “SAFER grants can help Delaware fire companies with the staffing, deployment capabilities, and training they need to protect themselves and all of us.  I encourage our local companies to take advantage of this open application period.”

For more information on how to apply, visit: http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/safer/index.shtm. SAFER help desk specialists can also answer questions by telephone toll-free at 1-866-274-0960, or by e-mail at firegrants@dhs.gov.

The competitive SAFER grant program is administered by DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration.

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Senator Coons thanks Bank of America for donating building to support local education

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons was in Wilmington this morning with several hundred Bank of America employees to thank the company for strengthening its commitment to Delaware with two major announcements: the donation of a 282,000-square-foot building for use by local schools and the decision to bring 500 jobs to Delaware.

“This building is a gift,” Senator Coons said at an event announcing the news Thursday morning. “It is a gift from the people of Bank of America who have made it possible, to the people of Delaware, the children, and the organizations that will bring this building to a new life in the years ahead.”

Bank of America is donating one of four buildings it owns in Wilmington to a new non-profit organization to be operated by the Longwood Foundation. The new organization, Community Education Building, will use the space to enhance existing Delaware schools and house new schools that need a facility to operate. It is expected to house up to 2,000 students.

Separately, Bank of America announced it was bringing 500 jobs to Delaware over the next three years.

“Delaware’s high-quality workforce and its strong support for the business community is why companies like Bank of America continue to invest in Delaware,” Senator Coons said. “It’s a great move for the company, and great news for our state.”

Low-quality but full audio of the event can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/yoiyGJ. Senator Coons’ remarks begin at 7:30.

Photos from the event are being uploaded here: http://flickr.com/photos/senatorchriscoons 

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Senators Carper, Coons call for reauthorization of National Flood Insurance Program

WILMINGTON – On Tuesday, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), joined a bipartisan group of senators in support of the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, helping to protect Delaware homes and businesses from financial ruin when flooding occurs.

Both Carper and Coons signed a letter along with 39 other senators urging senate leadership to bring flood insurance legislation to the floor for consideration.

“Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program is important to helping protect Delawareans who own homes and businesses from the devastating financial effects of flooding,” Senator Carper said. “This legislation will also help set the program on a more fiscally sound path, bring some certainty to the housing market and educate consumers about their flooding risks.”

“When natural disasters wreak havoc and cause flooding to Delaware homes and businesses, it’s imperative that the government supports a responsible safety net to help those affected,” Senator Coons said. “Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program will not only ensure that aid is available to the victims, it will also make sure that the program uses the most up-to-date science and maps to identify flood risks, and communicates those risks to property owners. It will also reform the program to make it more financially stable in the long-term. The reauthorization will make certain that when disaster strikes, our state’s families and businesses don’t become financially underwater.”

The National Flood Insurance Program was first established in 1968. The program was reauthorized in 2004 and that reauthorization expired in 2008. Since then, the program has been extended through a series of short term measures and in 2010, the program expired four times, resulting in lapses totaling 53 days. These lapses resulted in the delay or cancellation of more than 1,400 home closings per day. The legislation provides long-term stability with a five-year reauthorization. The program is currently set to expire on May 31, 2012.

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Senator Coons applauds committee approval of Delawarean Michael Scuse for USDA post

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today applauded the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry for its approval of the pending nomination of Delawarean Michael Scuse. A former Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, Scuse was nominated to the post of Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Commodity Credit Corporation. The Committee today favorably reported out his nomination, clearing the way for a final vote by the full Senate.

“Michael Scuse is passionate about agriculture,” Senator Coons said. “It was a pleasure to work with Michael when he served ably as Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, and the American people will benefit — just as the people of Delaware have benefited — from his hard work and dedication. Due to his innovative efforts, Delaware today has the highest percentage of preserved productive agriculture farmland of any state in the country. Along with his brother, Michael continues to run a family farm in Smyrna. He and his wife, Patrice, are part of the tightknit farm families that are the backbone of rural Delaware. I congratulate Michael and the Committee for its approval of this eminently qualified candidate, and I hope the full Senate will vote to confirm him soon.”

In December, Senator Coons delivered an opening statement before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee in support of Scuse’s nomination. Watch and read it here: http://bit.ly/wi1dhj

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President Obama’s FY13 budget proposal balances deficit reduction with key investments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today praised President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal, saying it showed it was possible to responsibly reduce our nation’s dangerous deficits while protecting investments in areas critical to America’s long-term competitiveness. President Obama’s budget proposal calls for $3 trillion in savings over the next 10 years while still investing in critical priorities, like research and development, education, and infrastructure.

“President Obama’s budget proposal shows that we can reduce our deficits in a way that shares in the sacrifice, but protects the investments that will keep America strong in the global economy,” Senator Coons said. “The question now is, what will Congress do to move forward with policies that strike the same kind of balance? I share the frustration of many Delawareans who believe it shouldn’t be unreasonable to expect both parties to work together on legislation that will help our economy recover and strengthen our nation’s future.”

Among the highlights, the President’s budget proposal:

• Provides tax incentives for manufacturers who create jobs here at home and doubles the deduction for advanced manufacturing; ends tax deductions for shipping jobs overseas.
• Expands and makes permanent the Research & Development Tax Credit. Senator Coons has twice introduced legislation to strengthen the R&D tax credit. (http://bit.ly/yEAfgm)
• Rewards colleges that stay affordable and provide good value with a Race to the Top: College Affordability and Completion program that will drive reforms to help boost quality, productivity, and degree completion.
• Strengthens the efforts at five international trade-related agencies to promote and enforce international trade, and meet the goals of the National Export Initiative. It also promotes U.S. exports and export-related jobs by providing $517 million for the International Trade Administration to better promote American exports in key markets abroad and improve trade enforcement.
• Empowers the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to further improve our patent system by granting the agency full access to its fee collections and funding reforms authorized by the America Invents Act. Senator Coons was a cosponsor of the America Invents Act. (http://bit.ly/wL4V2v)
• Extends the 1603 Treasury grant program and the 48c manufacturing tax credit to support private-sector investments in clean energy technology. Senator Coons introduced legislation (S. 825) last year to extend both. (http://bit.ly/wHDhz0)
• Establishes a National Infrastructure Bank that would issue loans and loan guarantees for transportation, water, and energy infrastructure projects. Senator Coons cosponsored a bill last year to create such a bank, and spoke about it on the floor in November. (http://bit.ly/z7dhUn)
• Increases the level of investment in non-defense R&D by 5 percent from the 2012 level, even as overall agency budgets decline.
• Maintains the President’s commitment to double the budgets of three key basic research agencies: National Science Foundation, Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and National Institute of Standards and Technology Laboratories
• Expands funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy for transformational, high-risk, high-payoff energy technology projects. Senator Coons will speak at the ARPA-E Innovation Summit in Washington on February 29.
• Increases investment in law enforcement efforts to protect American intellectual property rights from $5 million to $40 million.
• Extends 100 percent first-year depreciation of machinery and equipment for American businesses. Senator Coons introduced legislation (S. 1866) last year to extend it. (http://bit.ly/yLsQRa)
• Increases funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Senator Coons is a strong supporter of energy efficiency programs. (http://bit.ly/zq13ir)
• Assists workers who need to take time off to care for a child or other family member by helping states launch paid leave programs.
• Continues a multi-year plan to make strategic investments to address the root causes of hunger and poverty and to help prevent crises such as the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa.

“It is fitting that President Obama unveiled his budget at a community college this morning, because access to affordable higher education is essential for the next generation of American workers,” Senator Coons said. “If we are to compete and succeed in the global economy, we have to invest now in the training and education required for highly skilled, good quality jobs. If we have the right workforce, we can revitalize American manufacturing so products are made in America and manufactured in Delaware.” 

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Senator Coons announces Class of 2016 U.S. Service Academy Nominations

DOVER, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons today announced his U.S. Service Academy nominations for the Class of 2016.  Four nominees — or top candidates — have secured the Senator’s nomination and will be offered academy appointments should they meet all medical, physical and academic requirements.  Because appointments are often offered to many qualified alternate nominees, Senator Coons has also submitted the names of an additional 15 outstanding young Delawareans for consideration. 

“I am extremely honored and proud to nominate these gifted young men and women to the U.S. Service Academies,” Senator Coons said.  “The next few years will be challenging – academically, mentally and physically – but I am certain that they will rise to the challenge and come through this experience well-equipped to join the ranks of America’s fine military officers.”

Senator Coons’ four principal nominees and competitive alternates are:

United States Naval Academy, Annapolis 

Principal Nominee: Dylan Miller of Wilmington, Salesianum School

Principal Nominee: Benjamin Wattay of Smyrna, Smyrna High School

United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs  

Principal Nominee:  Kimberly Albanese of Harrington, Woodbridge High School

United States Military Academy, West Point

Principal Nominee: Daniel Goodman of Wilmington, Concord High School

Competitive Alternate Nominees

Michael Aleixo of Wilmington, Archmere Academy

Thomas Clark of Clayton, Smyrna High School

Madelyn Crimmins of Millsboro, Sussex Technical High School

Anthony Cuesta of Dover, Dover High School

Bryson Deane of Wilmington, Mercersburg Academy

Joseph Gonski of Selbyville, Valley Forge Military Academy

Ryan Meyer of Newark, Salesianum School

Nicholas Price of Magnolia, Caesar Rodney High School

Jane Saunders of Bethany Beach, Naples American School

Jung Son of Frankford, Indian River High School

Dylan Spence of Newark, University of Delaware

Robert Volm of Harrington, Milford High School

Joshua Shepherd of Dover, Campus Community School

Beau Warrington of Milford, Sussex Technical High School

Kassiya Yarovoy of Newark, Tall Oaks Classical School

Senator Coons also nominated eight individuals to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

 

United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point

Michael Aleixo of Wilmington, Archmere Academy

Joseph Capodanno of Newark, New Mexico Military Institute

Bryson Deane of Wilmington, Mercersburg Academy

Ryan Mock of Lewes, Cape Henlopen High School

Jung Son of Frankford, Indian River High School

Robert Volm of Harrington, Milford High School

Beau Warrington of Milford, Sussex Technical High School

Sean Wissler of Newark, New Mexico Military Institute

In the fall, Senator Coons appointed a Service Academy Selection Board that interviewed each applicant, and made recommendations to the Senator. The Board consists of representatives from New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties and is comprised of:

Capt. Emily Arthur

LTC Karen Berry

James Brown, Esq.

Ron Frazier

Scott Kessel

Wanda Lopez

John Stolson

Christine Thornberg

LTC Rita Wiley

“I am deeply grateful to the members of my Service Academy Selection Board for volunteering their time to interview the talented Delawareans who wanted to serve their country,” Senator Coons said. “Their counsel was invaluable, and I appreciate their service.”

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