Senators Coons, Tillis, Murray, and Shaheen introduce bipartisan resolution honoring Dr. Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring Dr. Jane Goodall on her 90th birthday today that recognizes her legacy as an ethologist, conservationist, and activist. The resolution was also cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

“On Dr. Goodall’s 90th birthday, let us celebrate her unwavering dedication to animals, conservation, and the planet as a whole by recognizing April 3, 2024, as National Jane Goodall Day,” said Senator Coons, Co-Chair of the International Conservation Caucus. “Dr. Goodall’s extraordinary contributions to the scientific world have shaped generations of young women everywhere and pushed the boundaries of what we know about primates, our environments, and ourselves.”

“What a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Goodall, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute. “It’s my hope that National Jane Goodall Day will inspire others to spread hope and turn it into action, building peaceful, global communities that protect people, other animals, and the environment.” 

Goodall has dedicated her life to conservation projects worldwide and advocated for the well-being of animals and the environment. Born on April 3, 1934, Goodall has been the driving force behind the world’s longest-running wild primate study, the research of chimpanzees in their natural habitat in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Her findings on the tool-making practices of chimpanzees revolutionized science and redefined the way animals are perceived and studied. Goodall was one of the first female wildlife field researchers and inspired countless other women to follow in her footsteps. Through the Jane Goodall Institute, Goodall has provided over 300 scholarships to young women to support their education and promote women in science.

The Jane Goodall Institute, which Goodall established in 1977, spearheads the Gombe Stream National Park study, supports the protection and restoration of the natural world, innovates new practices in community-led conservation, and promotes environmental education. The Jane Goodall Institute established the Tchimpounga Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Congo in 1991 to care for chimpanzees orphaned by the illegal commercial bushmeat and pet trades and has cared for over 200 chimpanzees since its founding. In 2002, Goodall was named a U.N. Messenger of Peace – the United Nations’ highest honor – in recognition of her peacebuilding work with the Roots & Shoots Youth Program, which has empowered nearly 1.5 million young people in over 65 countries to engage in activities that make a difference in their communities.

The text of the bill is available here.

Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bipartisan legislation to restore wetlands and migratory bird habitats

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined 12 of his Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) through 2028. Led by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and John Kennedy (R-La.), the legislation would also increase authorized annual funding for the program to $65 million.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act was originally enacted in 1989 to provide federal grants – matched by funding from state and local governments, private industry, and nonprofits – to projects that conserve North America’s wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife.

“The North American Wetlands Conservation Act has protected some of our continent’s most critical habitats for nearly 35 years,” said Senator Coons. “Thirty million acres, including some of Delaware’s most precious places, have been protected for migratory birds, endangered species, and other wildlife. Conservation is a bipartisan issue, and I’m proud to work with my colleagues, and advocates like Ducks Unlimited, to provide funding for these efforts as a member of the Appropriations Committee.”

“We owe it to our kids and grandkids to ensure they can inherit the full breadth of American wildlife and the wetlands that sustain them,” said Senator Heinrich. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to bolster our nation’s most successful wetlands restoration program. By reauthorizing the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, this legislation will improve access to clean drinking water, invest in our thriving multibillion-dollar outdoor recreation economy, and conserve New Mexico’s wildlife and the habitats they depend on for future generations.”

“Louisiana’s wetlands are a big part of our state’s outdoor sportsman culture and geographical beauty,” said Senator Kennedy. “The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is an important step to preserve our wildlife and protect our environment’s natural defense system.”

Wetlands secure freshwater supplies, recharge aquifers, and mitigate soil erosion and flooding. They also provide habitat for waterfowl, migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife, which support outdoor recreation activities such as hunting, fishing, and photography and several billion dollars of economic activity. Funding for NAWCA has been critical to acquiring, restoring, and enhancing wetlands in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. More than 3,300 NAWCA projects have conserved and restored more than 32 million acres across North America.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act has delivered a great return on investment, generating, on average, an additional $2 for every federal dollar. Over the program’s history, grants totaling more than $2.1 billion have spurred $4.3 billion for NAWCA projects through matching funds. North American Wetlands Conservation Act funds support an average of 7,500 jobs each year and more than $5 billion in annual economic activity.

In addition to Senator Coons, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is endorsed by Delta Waterfowl, Boone and Crockett, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Audubon, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Outdoor Industry Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Restore America’s Estuaries. 

“The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is a foundational pillar of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” said Adam Putnam, CEO, Ducks Unlimited. “The voluntary, incentive-based approach has conserved millions of acres of habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife while helping improve water quality and quantity and making our communities more resilient. We thank Senators Heinrich and Kennedy for supporting North America’s most successful wetlands conservation program, and we urge their colleagues to support it.”  

“The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is one of the most cost-effective conservation investments we can make,” said Jeff Crane, President and CEO, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). “Often matched at a rate of 3:1, this important program is a great example of how federal investments into conservation can be leveraged with private contributions to secure a significant return on investment to bolster on-the-ground conservation. CSF thanks past Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Senator Heinrich and CSC Member Senator Kennedy for introducing this legislation, and for their commitment to conservation.” 

“Wetlands shield against floods, help clean our drinking water and provide habitat for diverse plant and animal life,” said Tom Cors, Senior Legislative Director, The Nature Conservancy. “Reauthorizing the North American Wetlands Conservation Act is an opportunity for Congress to continue America’s conservation legacy while sparking job creation and outdoor recreation opportunities. We applaud Senators Heinrich and Kennedy for championing our nation’s wetlands and the lives they sustain.”

“North America’s wetlands demonstrate what is possible for people, wildlife, and clean water when we make strategic, concerted investments in conserving and restoring vital habitat,” said Andrew Wilkins, Land Conservation Policy Director, National Wildlife Federation. “This reauthorization bill will help keep our commitment to wetlands conservation strong and ensure that the people and wildlife whose work, water, and way of life can endure for future generations. Congress should ensure the North American Wetlands Conservation Act remains one of America’s most successful conservation programs since it first passed in 1989.”  

“The New Mexico Wildlife Federation applauds Senator Heinrich for leading the effort to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act,” said Jesse Deubel, Executive Director, New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “North American Wetlands Conservation Act investments have been instrumental in protecting, restoring, and improving critical wildlife habitat for countless species of wildlife across New Mexico. In addition to the immense benefits this has provided for plant, fish, and non-game animal species in our state, waterfowl populations have experienced tremendous success. Waterfowl hunters contribute tens of millions of dollars annually to our state’s economy with much of that directly benefiting rural communities. The increase in funding included in this reauthorization bill is a sound investment for the future of wildlife, all the people who love wildlife, and all the communities who depend on robust populations of wildlife to support their local economies.”

A one-page summary of the bill is here. 

The text of the bill is here. 

Senator Coons statement on the passing of Senator Joe Lieberman

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the passing of former Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.):

“Joe lived his principles and dedicated decades of his life to public service. Through his son, Matt, I first got to know him many years ago when I was a law student in his home state of Connecticut.

“Later, as colleagues, we traveled together on several memorable occasions. I vividly remember a great dinner with Joe in Israel, where people lined up at our table to take photos with the first Jewish American to run on a major-party presidential ticket. He could have run for mayor of Jerusalem and won.

“Tough and tenacious, I admired him and sustained a friendship with Joe even when I disagreed with him. Annie and I extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Hadassah; children Matt, Rebecca, Ethan, and Hana; and grandchildren.”

Senators Coons, Capito introduce Safe SHORES Act to extend and expand Recovery Housing Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced legislation to help individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD) access stable housing. The Safe and Secure Housing for Opioid Recovery and Enduring Stability (Safe SHORES) Act of 2024 would reauthorize the Recovery Housing Program (RHP), first enacted as part of the SUPPORT Act of 2018. The legislation would extend the program until 2029 and increase authorized funding to at least $50 million per year. The RHP’s authorization expired in 2023.

“Housing is a fundamental need, and safe, decent transitional housing can make the difference for Americans traveling the road to recovery,” said Senator Coons. “The Safe SHORES Act will reauthorize a crucial program in the fight against the opioid epidemic and ensure that many more Americans recovering from addiction don’t have to worry about having a roof over their heads. I’m proud to work on this bill with Senator Capito, and I hope the Senate will quickly take it up and pass it.”

“Transitional housing is a crucial part of recovery for many suffering from addiction,” said Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS). “The Safe SHORES Act will give state recovery housing programs additional resources to assist those in need of a stable residence during what we know can be a difficult path to recovery. This bill takes another step forward in the fight against opioids in our West Virginia communities and I look forward to seeing it pass.”

The RHP provides funding to states and the District of Columbia to acquire, build, or rehabilitate transitional housing for those in recovery from substance abuse. The Safe SHORES Act of 2024 will extend, expand, and improve the RHP to serve more Americans. Specifically, the bill would:

• Increase authorized funding to no less than $50 million per year;
• Give states and grantees additional flexibility to distribute funds as they need and allow grantees to cover more costs that come with providing housing;
• Encourage states to award grants to facilities that participate in best practices that meet state standards of accreditation and have robust workforce development and emotional support programs; and
• Require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to produce an annual performance report outlining the distribution of RHP awards and project developments.

Passing Safe SHORES will help the United States continue to address the worst drug epidemic in its history. In 2021, more than 75% of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths involved opioids.

“The opioid crisis has hit hard in rural communities across the nation,” said Alan Morgan, CEO, the National Rural Health Association. “The Recovery Housing Program offers welcome relief for these communities and allows them the capacity to provide safety and sanctuary for individuals on their journey to recovery. The National Rural Health Association commends Senators Coons and Capito for championing the reauthorization of this critical program through legislation in the Safe SHORES Act.”

“BPC Action applauds Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) for their leadership in introducing the Safe SHORES Act, which would reauthorize and build upon the Recovery Housing Program administered by HUD,” said Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action. “Created as part of the SUPPORT Act of 2018, HUD’s Recovery Housing Program has proven invaluable in fostering a safe and healthy living environment for individuals on the path to recovery from substance use disorders. The Safe SHORES Act echoes the position of BPC’s J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, that bipartisan policies are needed to ensure that homelessness in the United States is a rare, brief, and one-time occurrence; and BPC’s Health Program’s position to further expand access to addiction treatment and recovery.”

“The Safe SHORES Act of 2024 is essential for our community here in Delaware,” said Domenica Personti, CEO, Impact Life. “By providing critical support to recovery housing facilities, this bill will help us address the opioid epidemic head-on and ensure that individuals in recovery have the resources they need to rebuild their lives.”

“People in recovery from SUD have a difficult enough time without having to navigate roadblocks to one of their most basic needs, housing,” said Don Keister, President and Founder, atTAcK addiction.

A one-pager on the bill is available here. The text of the bill is available here.

The legislation is endorsed by the National Rural Health Association, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, and the National Alliance of Recovery Residences. Delaware-based organizations Impact Life and atTAcK addiction also endorsed the bill.

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Video Statement: Senator Coons on Senate passage of appropriations bills

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following video statement after he voted with the Senate to pass a package of six appropriations bills and fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year:

[WATCH]

“The Senate has just passed the remaining full year appropriations bills: $1.2 trillion that will go to fund our military, our Department of Homeland Security, and other key departments like the Department of State and USAID, whose appropriations I helped lead. Our work for the year is not yet done. There are some positives in this bill: some investments for fentanyl screening at our border, to hire some more border patrol agents; in my subcommittee, $330 million more for humanitarian relief for Gaza, for Ukraine, for other countries where there are emergencies and crises, and 12,000 more Special Immigrant Visas for those Afghans who served alongside American troops and in support of our mission.

“But there remains undone a supplemental funding request that has previously passed the Senate by a big bipartisan margin, which the House still needs to take up. It would provide critical funding for Ukraine, for Israel, for humanitarian relief, and to secure our border. It is my hope, indeed my prayer, that the House turns to that promptly when they return.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS). 

Senators Coons, Lee introduce bipartisan bill to limit secret government collection of electronic data

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the NDO Fairness Act to limit the federal government’s ability to access electronic data without a customer’s knowledge. The bill would reform the process by which the federal government can obtain a non-disclosure order (NDO) when executing a warrant for personal records from companies like Apple, Microsoft, or Meta during a criminal investigation. Congressmen Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives, where it passed unanimously.

“The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable searches and seizures, but individuals can only assert their rights if they are aware that their electronic records have been collected,” said Senator Coons. “The current bar for granting non-disclosure orders is too low, and government requests for secrecy are often granted even when they’re not justified by the facts on the ground. The NDO Fairness Act will ensure that NDOs are only issued in circumstances requiring secrecy and will better protect the rights of Americans.”

“The Fourth Amendment protects our right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, including the search of our private electronic communications,” said Senator Lee. “Americans deserve to know when the government surveils these communications. This bill strikes the right balance between protecting Americans’ privacy and providing needed transparency while allowing judges to grant non-disclosure orders when necessary to protect others from harm or preserve an ongoing investigation.”

“In the 21st century, federal prosecutors no longer need to show up to your office,” said Congressman Nadler. “They just need to raid your virtual office. They do not have to subpoena journalists directly. They just need to go to the cloud. And rather than providing Americans with meaningful notice that their private electronic records are being accessed in a criminal investigation, the Department hides behind its ability to ask third-party providers directly. They deny American citizens, companies, and institutions their basic day in court and, instead, they gather their evidence entirely in secret. The House’s bipartisan passage of H.R. 7072 is a crucial step towards limiting the Department of Justice’s ability to abuse a little-known process that allows prosecutors to obtain gag orders when secretly trying to obtain a person’s electronic communications data.”

“As a member of the Judiciary Committee, protecting Americans’ right to privacy from their government has been one of my top priorities,” said Congressman Fitzgerald. “The NDO Fairness Act does precisely that – the bill bolsters privacy protections and provides a much-needed check on federal surveillance authority. I was proud to introduce this bill in the House and see it pass with overwhelming support, and I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for helping to push this legislation ahead!”

Under the Stored Communications Act, the U.S. government may obtain a warrant to compel electronic communications service providers to disclose customers’ personal records. The government can also obtain an NDO prohibiting the provider from notifying the customer of the government’s request if there is reason to believe that such notice might jeopardize the investigation. Although NDOs were originally intended to be used only in a small subset of investigations that require secrecy, large tech companies now receive thousands of NDOs per year. The current process for obtaining an NDO leaves little room for judicial review or opportunity for providers to contest the validity of an NDO.

The NDO Fairness Act would reform the process for granting NDO applications by:

• Raising the standard of proof the government must satisfy before an NDO can be issued from the current “reason to believe” standard to a standard of more likely than not, under which the government must show that a denial of the request for an NDO will have a specific adverse result; 
• Requiring the government to state in its application whether the target of the search is aware of the search or investigation and whether the target is suspected of the criminal activity under investigation;
• Requiring the court to issue a written determination when granting an NDO application;
• Requiring that the NDO be narrowly tailored;
• Requiring that the NDO be issued initially for no more than 90 days with the option to request 90-day extensions, with exceptions for offenses involving child sexual abuse material or similar offenses;
• Affording service providers an opportunity to file a motion to vacate or modify the NDO; and
• Requiring the government to notify the court within 14 days if the need for the NDO changes materially.

The NDO Fairness Act has been endorsed by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), Reform Government Surveillance, and the Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability.

A one-pager on the bill is available here, and a section-by section summary is available here.

The text of the bill is available here.

Senators Coons, Tillis mark two-year anniversary of Rohingya genocide determination

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Co-Chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, issued the following statement commemorating the two-year anniversary of the U.S. declaration of genocide against the Rohingya people in Burma’s northern Rakhine State:

“Two years ago today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that the Burmese military had committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017, conducting an ‘extreme, large-scale, widespread’ campaign of terror with the aim of driving the Rohingya from Burma. More than half a decade after these atrocities, the 600,000 Rohingya who remain in Burma are a stateless people subject to continued discrimination and violence. More than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh as refugees. We must be vigilant and act decisively in the face of genocide and mass atrocities to prevent the loss of civilian lives.

“Last month, alongside Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), we introduced a Senate resolution recognizing religious freedom as a fundamental right. The resolution specifically cites Burma’s campaign of violence against the Rohingya people, who are predominantly Muslim in a majority-Buddhist country. We call on the government of Burma to hold the perpetrators of violence against the Rohingya accountable for their heinous actions and to end the continued persecution of Rohingya still living in Burma.”

Senator Coons is also Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator Coons statement on State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS), released the following statement today after the SFOPS funding bill was made public as part of a six-bill appropriations package:

“This SFOPS bill makes critical investments in our diplomatic and development workforce, prioritizes meeting U.S. international commitments, stands by our partners and allies overseas, and delivers badly needed humanitarian assistance to those most in need. This bill rejects the efforts of those who would see us turn inward and continues to embrace the simple fact that we are safer and more prosperous at home when we engage globally to help shape a world based on the core values of rule of law, human rights, and democratic governance. 

“This bill contains more than $58 billion for the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and related foreign assistance programs to deliver on those priorities. That includes $10.3 billion for sustainable and inclusive development, nearly $3.5 billion to fully meet our commitments to the United Nations and other international organizations, and more than $1.8 billion to help create a secure, free, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. More than $10 billion will also go to address critical global health initiatives, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

“There are many examples of how this bill advances our core principles. I’m pleased that it includes funding for the International Criminal Court as it continues to pursue charges against senior Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, for committing war crimes in Ukraine. I’m also proud that we were able to secure 12,000 additional Special Immigrant Visas for our Afghan allies. While we must pass the Afghan Adjustment Act to fully uphold our commitment to the Afghans who stood by us, these visas will provide a critical lifeline for many who helped us when we needed it most.

“The bill also makes critical investments in global development and economic growth, helping partner governments lift their populations out of poverty and strengthening our efforts to diversify and secure critical supply chains that have direct benefits here at home and counter our adversaries’ malign activities abroad. Additionally, while I will continue to work alongside many of my colleagues for the long-term reauthorization of PEPFAR – the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – the one-year extension included in this bill buys us critical time for that work. 

“As important as what is in this bill is what is not included. The bill does not include many policy provisions proposed by the House bill that would have significantly set back years of global development efforts. 

“These bills are always products of negotiation. I am particularly concerned about the yearlong prohibition on funding for UNRWA, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, everywhere it operates. I remain deeply concerned about the plight of innocent civilians in Gaza and will continue working with the Biden administration to encourage additional steps to be taken to alleviate their suffering.

“I am also concerned that the House has yet to take up and pass the Senate-passed national security supplemental, which includes more than $9 billion in humanitarian assistance and additional security and economic assistance for Ukraine and other partners. For every day that passes without the enactment of the supplemental resources, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are emboldened, our reliability as a partner is called into question, and millions of innocent people who rely on U.S. humanitarian leadership are left in need. This makes the world less safe for all of us.

“While I will continue working toward passage of the supplemental, I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass the package of appropriations bills before us to show the world that the United States continues to provide critical leadership.”

Senator Coons Joins Colleagues in Urging the Biden Administration to Establish a Framework for U.S. Recognition of a Nonmilitarized Palestinian State

WASHINGTON – In light of the ongoing negotiations around a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, today, Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) signed onto a letter with 18 of his Senate colleagues to the Biden Administration today, urging President Biden to establish a bold, public framework for the U.S. to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state. As a strong diplomatic leader in the region for decades, the U.S. must continue this role and take concrete action toward a two-state solution, in line with established U.S. foreign policy.

Senators Coons, Ernst, Kaine, and Ricketts introduce bipartisan bill to enhance USAID’s locally led development

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) introduced the Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act to improve U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) collaboration with local partners when implementing humanitarian and development programs around the world. 

The bill incentivizes USAID to localize its partner base by granting new authorities to the agency. Notably, the bill would make it easier for local partners to submit grant applications in their native language, authorize USAID to provide local organizations with time extensions for certain reporting requirements, and authorize USAID to limit competition to local organizations for awards of up to $25 million.

“Development and humanitarian assistance programs are more effective and sustainable when local communities drive assistance goals and implementation,” said Senator Coons. “After all, local communities often know best where resources are needed and how assistance can be implemented most effectively to meet local needs. The Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act will push a larger share of funding directly to local leaders, reduce burdens on local partners, and create incentives for USAID to strengthen projects led by local communities. I’m proud to introduce this bill with my colleagues and hope the Senate will swiftly take up our legislation.”

“I have been tirelessly working to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent discerningly and efficiently. While USAID has resisted my previous oversight, I’m taking bipartisan action to clarify USAID’s policies to ensure they are localizing needs and ending abuses of taxpayer dollars, so developing countries reduce their dependence on U.S. dollars,” said Senator Ernst.

USAID recognizes that local leadership and authority are important for creating long-lasting results across humanitarian assistance and development work. In November 2021, USAID set a goal of providing at least 25% of the agency’s program funds directly to local partners by the end of 2025. By 2030, 50% of USAID’s programs will put local communities in the lead. While prior administrations have worked to direct funding to local organizations, only 10% of all USAID funding has been allotted to local entities in recent years.

The Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act seeks to increase transparency around USAID’s efforts to engage with local entities that would expand and diversify its partner base. Specifically, the bill would:

• Authorize USAID to limit competitions just to local entities for awards valued up to $25 million
• Authorize USAID to increase the de minimis indirect cost rate to 15% for local entities receiving assistance awards
• Authorize USAID to accept applications or proposals in languages other than English, and order USAID to explore various options for resources and translation services for local languages
• Require USAID to submit an annual progress report focused on the strategies and polices its executing to advance locally-led development, including details on funding allocated both directly and indirectly by local entities   

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

The text of the bill is available here.

Senator Coons is chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee.