Delaware’s Congressional Delegation celebrates inclusion of Del. National Park as part of President’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative

WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) celebrated the announcement that the First State National Historical Park Act of 2011 will be included as part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative. The First State National Historical Park Act, as well as the Delaware National Bayshore proposal, are among 100 projects nationwide – two in every state – that will be highlighted in as part of the president’s effort to establish a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda and reconnect Americans to the outdoors.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar highlighted the two projects after a series of meetings with Governor Jack Markell, community leaders and other stakeholders in Delaware to generate ideas on how to best implement the president’s initiative in the First State. These projects were identified for their potential to conserve important lands and build recreation opportunities and economic growth for the surrounding communities. 

“Today, my friend Sec. Ken Salazar highlighted what those of us in the First State already know – that Delaware’s rich history and environmental beauty tells an important story that should be told on a national stage,” said Senator Carper. “By including our proposal for a national park in Delaware in the America’s Great Outdoors initiative, Sec. Salazar and the President are helping to move our state another step closer toward the reality of a national park that preserves and teaches the lessons of our state’s heritage. For almost a decade, I have been working with federal officials, state officials, community leaders and activists to establish a national park in Delaware. I thank Governor Markell and his team, and the numerous other community leaders in Delaware for their support and efforts during this process, and I look forward to working with Sec. Salazar and my Congressional colleagues to make the First State Historical National Park and the Delaware National Bayshore a reality.” 

“Delaware is blessed with abundant, diverse recreation opportunities that have been a source of great pride for our state,” Senator Coons said. “The America’s Great Outdoors Initiative will highlight two important projects that will grow local economies, provide new recreation activities, and protect important historical sites and natural resources in Delaware. I applaud Governor Markell, Secretary O’Mara, and Senator Carper for their effort in working with the Administration to draw attention to these projects, and I will continue to work with them to push for the establishment of the First State National Historical Park and the Delaware National Bayshore, as well as other important recreation projects in the state, including the C&D Canal recreational trail.”

“I applaud Secretary Salazar for recognizing the importance of creating a national park in Delaware and preserving our state’s beautiful bayshore area,” said Congressman Carney.  “These initiatives showcase the incredible history and abundant natural habitat that make our state so special.  I will continue working with Secretary Salazar and the Obama Administration to make sure these projects are completed for Delawareans and visitors to our state to enjoy.”

“Under the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, we are listening to the people of Delaware and communities across America and working with them on locally-based projects that will conserve the beauty and health of our land and water and open up more opportunities for people to enjoy them,” Sec. Salazar said. “My staff and I have been asking each governor for the most promising projects to support in their states, and we will do all we can to help move them forward.”

The two projects in Delaware highlighted by Salazar in the forthcoming report are:

First State National Historical Park

Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and is now the only state with no national-park area. Designating a national-park area would boost tourism and provide urban outdoor-recreation opportunities to residents and visitors. The purpose of the park would be to preserve and interpret resources associated with early Dutch, Swedish, and English settlements, as well as Delaware’s role in the birth of the nation.

The concept of the park connects four interpretative centers linked to sites across the state to tell a comprehensive story of Delaware’s coastal heritage. In cooperation with state agencies and local governments, the National Park Service would manage the centers and provide interpretation staff at various attractions. Under this “hub-and-spoke” concept, park boundaries would be drawn loosely to include as many sites as possible that are representative of the themes.

The First State National Historic Park Act was introduced in 2009 and awaits congressional approval. It is supported by the state of Delaware.

Delaware National Bayshore

The Delaware Bayshore is a widely recognized area of global ecological significance. Extensive coastal marshes, beaches, and agricultural lands annually support more than a half-million shorebirds during both spring and fall migration. This makes the Bayshore one of the best birding and hunting areas on the East Coast. More than half of the Bayshore region is protected as refuges, wildlife areas, agriculture preserves, parks, and cultural-heritage sites.

The state seeks Interior’s assistance to conserve, restore, and provide access to the Bayshore by leveraging federal, state, and private resources. Coordinated landscape-scale conservation among federal, state, and local agencies, private conservation organizations, private landowners, and local communities would ensure protection of diverse natural habitat and improve recreational opportunities for 30 million Americans who live within a three-hour drive of the Bayshore.

Delaware would also like to partner with Interior to evaluate the potential for designating its eastern shore as America’s first “national bayshore.”

This project aligns with many AGO objectives: landscape-scale conservation, enhancement of vital habitat, restoration of waterways, connection of local communities to the outdoors, and recreation.

The report will also include potential actions by Interior and its bureaus to support the projects identified. In Delaware, for example, the Department support congressional approval of First State National Historical Park and collaborate with Delaware to conserve and restore the Delaware Bayshore and to enhance recreation. The Department could also evaluate the possibility of designating the area as the first national bayshore. The full 50-state report will be released in the coming weeks.  

For more information on the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, click here.

To view a map of the projects already announced, click here.

###

Delaware’s Congressional Delegation encourages small businesses in Delaware impacted by 2011 drought to apply for SBA disaster loans

WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) encouraged Delaware small businesses, small agriculture cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations impacted by the drought and excessive heat the occurred June through August 2011 to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) economic injury disaster loans.

“These loans are vital to the recovery of the small businesses that experienced economic pain due to the devastating conditions this summer,” Sen. Carper said. “The Small Business Administration works hard to ensure that businesses across the country have access to the resources they need to recover from hard times, and these loans reflect that purpose. I encourage Delaware businesses that were affected by this summer’s extreme weather to apply for these loans.”

“This summer’s excessive heat and dry conditions negatively impacted many Delaware small businesses,” said Sen. Coons. “These loans are designed to assist folks affected by harsh weather conditions, and I encourage Delaware small business owners who need help repairing damages to take advantage of the loan program.”

“This summer’s weather conditions caused businesses that are a critical part of Delaware’s economy to suffer,” said Congressman Carney.  “Small Business Administration Disaster loans will help these businesses maintain jobs for Delaware workers and assist in their recovery process.  I urge eligible Delaware businesses to apply for the loan and take advantage of this important resource.”

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquacultural enterprises, agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA, but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 3 percent for private non-profit organizations of all sizes and 4 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years.  The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources.  Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.  These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.  The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov.  Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.  

Those affected by the disaster may also apply for disaster loans electronically from SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than May 30, 2012.

# # #

In visit to solar-powered farm, Senator Coons trumpets investments in renewable energy

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. — In a visit Tuesday to the T.S. Smith & Sons’ farm in Bridgeville — the only solar-powered Century Farm in Delaware — U.S. Senator Chris Coons reiterated his commitment to helping small agricultural businesses integrate renewable energy into their operations. Senator Coons has introduced legislation that would extend the federal renewable-energy program that financed part of the T.S. Smith & Sons solar project.

“T.S. Smith & Sons is a pioneer in sustainable agriculture and a leader in Delaware’s farming community,” Senator Coons said. “I’m sure Thomas Sterling Smith would be proud of the investments his great-grandsons have made to ensure that their farm remains a profitable, sustainable, and environmentally sound business. That’s why I feel so strongly about supporting the extension of the successful 1603 Treasury Grants Program to help businesses finance alternative energy resources. Without this kind of program farms like these would have much greater difficulty financing clean energy investments.”

First introduced as part of the American Recovery Act of 2009, the U.S. Treasury Department’s 1603 Program is used to reimburse eligible businesses for a portion of the cost of installing specified energy projects. A one-year extension of the 1603 Program is a key part of Senator Coons’ Job Creation Through Innovation Act, which he introduced in April.

After meeting with representatives from Solair Energy at the University of Delaware’s 2010 Agriculture Week, the Smith family decided it wanted to pursue investments in solar energy on its farm. In May 2011, the farm publicly unveiled 178 ground-mounted Solair solar panels that were manufactured at Motech Solar’s plant in Newark. The solar panels produce around 43 kw of power, drastically reducing the farm’s $25,000 annual electric bill.

“The fact that T.S. Smith & Sons is running on solar panels that were manufactured in Delaware is a great testament to the strength of the renewable energy sector in our state,” Senator Coons said. “I look forward to continuing my work with members of Delaware’s energy community to encourage more businesses powered by clean energy to set-up shop in the First State and bring good-quality jobs to our communities.”

Founded in 1907 by Thomas Sterling Smith, T.S. Smith & Sons is an 800-acre farm that grows a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, selling them to retail locations and restaurants in the surrounding area. The current, fourth-generation owners are: Matt, Charlie and Tom Smith and Susan Hayes. In addition to solar power, the farm makes a conscious effort to employ technologies that conserve water and soil.

###

Carper, Coons’ Senate websites named two of the best on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON – The official websites of U.S. Senator Tom Carper and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (both D-Del.) were named two of the best Congressional websites on Monday in a biennial ranking by the Congressional Management Foundation. Senator Carper was honored with a Gold Mouse Award. Senator Coons was honored with a Bronze Mouse Award and was the only member of the Senate’s 13-member class of 2010 to be recognized.

“My top priority is to serve my constituents to the best of my ability by being accessible and helpful, and in a world where our daily communication is increasingly digitized and online, it is critically important that my ‘online office’ is just as effective and useful as my traditional ones are,” Senator Carper. “That’s why I strive to maintain a website that will ensure that my constituents can quickly and easily access the information they need, whether it is on a bill that I’ve sponsored, applying for a grant or academy nomination, or to get news on a natural disaster. I make a point of traveling throughout the First State and to and from Washington, D.C. nearly every week, and I want Delawareans to see the work that I’m doing on their behalf and learn how they can get more involved. My website, as well as my e-newsletter, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, help me to more effectively communicate with my constituents and, in doing so, hopefully allows me to better serve them.”

“Engaging with Delawareans about the issues impacting their families and their communities is a critical part of this job,” Senator Coons said. “Building an accessible and engaging virtual office was a priority from the moment I was elected last year because our website and social media channels play a significant role not only in sharing the work that I’m doing for our state, but in allowing Delawareans to voice their opinions and get assistance with issues with federal agencies. We put a lot of energy into features like our robust blog and Correspondence from the Commute, and will continue to explore innovative new ways of engaging with Delawareans.”

Congressional Management Foundation researchers looked at the websites of 618 Congressional offices, leadership offices, and committees from June to September this year. Only 98 win awards at the platinum, gold, silver, or bronze levels.

“Senators Carper and Coons are to be commended for educating citizens and achieving the highest degree of transparency and accountability in online communications,” said Bradford Fitch, President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. “In the 21st Century, a website is much more than a broadcasting tool for a political message – it’s a virtual office and a window into our democratic institutions. These winners of the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Mouse Awards understand the value of using the Internet to enlighten and serve constituents, and are examples for all congressional offices to follow.”

Each website is reviewed using 92 criteria in 10 categories: usability of website; timeliness of content; breadth and depth of information on issues; constituent services and casework information; promoting accountability to constituents; legislative process information; district/state information; floor proceedings information; availability of diverse forms of content; and availability of diverse forms of content channels. Offices’ social media profiles were also reviewed.

The Congressional Management Foundation performs the Gold Mouse Award review in the first year of each new Congress.

Senator Carper also won a Gold Mouse Award in 2003.

Founded in 1977, CMF is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to helping Congress and its Members meet the evolving needs and expectations of an engaged and informed 21st century citizenry. Its work focuses on improving congressional operations and enhancing citizen engagement through research, publications, training, and management services. The Gold Mouse Awards and congressional website research is part of CMF’s Partnership for a More Perfect Union, dedicated to enriching the relationship between citizens and Congress. The goal of the Partnership is to further meaningful civic engagement through education, re-establishing trust, and providing innovative and pragmatic tools to facilitate purposeful two-way communication between citizens and Congress.

###

Senator Coons encourages small businesses damaged by Hurricane Irene to apply for SBA disaster loans

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today encouraged Delaware small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most private non-profit organizations in Kent and Sussex County that were negatively affected by rainfall and flooding from Hurricane Irene to take advantage of low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). 

The loans, which were publically announced by the SBA on Thursday afternoon, were made available following a disaster declaration request to the SBA from Governor Jack Markell on October 18.

“Hurricane Irene had a significant impact on our state, damaging buildings and forcing many Delaware small business owners to worry about how they would finance repairs,” Senator Coons said. “I applaud the efforts of Governor Markell and others to procure disaster relief for folks negatively affected by the storm, and encourage Delaware small businesses owners who need help picking up the pieces to take advantage of the SBA low-interest loans.”

Eligible entities may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  The rates on these loans are 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years.  The SBA determines eligibility for the loans based on the size and type of business and its financial resources.  Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Applications and program information are available by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be returned to the Customer Service Center or mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Those impacted may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. 

The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 20, 2012. 

“The Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to help small businesses and non-profits in Delaware with their federal disaster loans,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

“The SBA can help affected small businesses and non-profit organizations overcome their economic losses by offering working capital loans, but the help cannot start until they submit an SBA Disaster Loan application to us,” Jayne Armstrong, SBA’s Delaware district director said.

###

Statement from Senator Coons on Senate failure to put teachers, first responders back to work

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement Thursday night after the Senate’s failure to invoke cloture on legislation that would have put more than a thousand Delaware teachers and first responders back to work.

“I am disappointed that the persistent partisanship of the Senate has once again claimed important legislation that would have made an immediate impact on our nation’s jobs crisis by getting hundreds of thousands of teachers and first responders back to work. It’s hard to believe that, in nearly 12 months in the Senate, the most productive thing I’ve been able to do for Delawareans looking for work is the three job fairs we’ve hosted around the state to connect 5000 of our neighbors with employers ready to hire. Washington is broken and could learn a lot from Delaware. It is long past time that my colleagues get over their politics and come to the table in good faith to get Americans back to work.”

Senator Coons expresses frustration over failure of amendment on national crime commission

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and founder of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, expressed his frustration on the Senate’s failure to pass an amendment establishing the National Criminal Justice Commission, which would have created a blue-ribbon, bipartisan panel of experts charged with undertaking an 18-month top-to-bottom review of the nation’s criminal justice system and offering concrete recommendations for reform.  Senator Coons is a cosponsor to the amendment, which fell just three votes shy of the 60-vote margin needed to proceed.

“I was, once again, deeply disappointed in the Senate’s inability to put politics aside and join together today to pass this important legislation for a thorough review of our nation’s criminal justice system,” Senator Coons said. “This long overdue commission would have made the public safer and our system more just by confronting ongoing problems and making better use of taxpayer dollars. Despite today’s vote, I remain committed to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to find solutions to improve our legal and criminal justice system.” 

The Commission would have studied all areas of the criminal justice system including federal, state, local and tribal governments’ criminal justice costs, practices, and policies. After conducting the review, the Commission would have made recommendations for changes in, or continuation of oversight, policies, practices, and laws designed to prevent, deter, and reduce crime and violence, improve cost-effectiveness, and ensure the interests of justice.

The Commission would have had the opportunity to examine and develop recommendations addressing the broad range of new and emerging challenges that confront law enforcement today, from cyber-crime to non-traditional organized crime, from violent street gangs to homeland security.  In addition, the Commission would have also reviewed the impact, difficulties and opportunities that are presented to the criminal justice community by technological innovations. 

The Commission is broadly supported by law enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs Associations, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, and the American Bar Association.

Last week, Senator Coons inaugurated the first-ever bipartisan Senate Law Enforcement Caucus with co-chair, Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). The Caucus’ mission is to educate and inform members of the Senate and staff about the programs and initiatives that are keeping our communities safe, while advocating for the policies and resources law enforcement agencies need to carry out their missions.

###

Statement from Senator Coons on the death of Moammar Qadaffi

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today released the following statement on the death of former Libyan leader Moammar Qadaffi.

“This is an historic day for the people of Libya and all those committed to building a world free of the type of tyranny that Moammar Qadaffi imposed. The Libyan people rose up to liberate their country and lay the groundwork for a brighter future that is more stable, more secure, and more just. It is my hope that the Libyan people will use this a opportunity to form a real, multi-party democracy. America’s involvement in this achievement was measured, modest, and responsible — proof that a smart, supporting role in a focused multilateral effort can be effective in protecting innocent civilians and stabilizing dangerous regions.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator Coons cosponsors bipartisan amendment to fight dangerous “bath salts”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today joined Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) as an original cosponsor of a bipartisan amendment that would require stronger coordination of federal law enforcement and resources in working with state and local agencies to respond to the rapid growth in use and distribution of synthetic drugs, including the illicit narcotics MDPV and mephedrone, known more commonly as “bath salts.”

“The increased use of bath salts has ruined many lives and is growing as a destructive cancer in some of Delaware’s close-knit communities,” Senator Coons said.  “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this amendment, which will call for a coordinated effort between federal and state governments to keep dangerous new hallucinogenic drugs off our streets. This legislation will make Delaware safer by providing our law enforcement officials with the resources they need to fight the growing abuse of bath salts.”

The amendment would require the Department of Justice to craft a comprehensive strategy for partnering with local law enforcement to target the spread of synthetic drugs, including:

(1) Conducting public awareness campaigns, partnering with local law enforcement officials, hospitals, and schools to educate parents and young people about the dangers of abusing synthetic drugs;

(2) Addressing the rampant abuse and ease of access of synthetic drugs in rural communities, where such problems can multiply quickly while attention is placed on larger population centers;

(3) Use the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program to provide additional assistance to law enforcement agencies operating in areas experiencing high levels of synthetic drug trafficking;

(4) Improving coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize shipments of synthetic drugs;

(5) Developing and distributing test kits so that local law enforcement can better identify dangerous individuals under the influence of synthetic drugs in the field; and

(6) Using the authority under section 203 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 813), to pursue law enforcement actions against the distribution of synthetic drugs. 

“The severity of the bath salts crisis cannot be overstated,” Senator Snowe said. “This use of these mind-altering drugs are resulting in prolonged, violent episodes and greatly stressing the resources of local law-enforcement and medical facilities. Let me be clear, the toll it has taken on our state and the health of our citizens is significant, and disturbing reports of violent and self-destructive behavior are deeply concerning and must be addressed at all levels of government.  A coordinated strategy at all levels of law enforcement is required to provide the training, awareness and resources essential to combating the rampant abuse of bath salts, which to this point has been largely unregulated and nearly impossible to track. We cannot afford to wait any longer while these frightening substances spread rapidly throughout our communities.”

Senator Coons is also a co-sponsor of the Combating Dangerous Synthetic Stimulants Act of 2011, which would add MDPV and mephedrone to the list of controlled substances, making their possession and sale illegal in the United States.

###

Senator Coons cosponsors bipartisan bill to combat antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today signed on as a cosponsor to the bipartisan Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN) Act, which will spur development of new antibiotics to combat the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

While antibiotics are widely used by doctors to treat common infections, an increasing number of strains of bacterial infections are immune to existing antibiotics. The GAIN Act will encourage drug-makers to invest in the research and development of innovative antibiotics, and streamline the regulatory process so that pioneering infectious disease products can reach patients. Antibiotic-resistant infections are on the rise, causing tens of thousands of deaths each year — disproportionately affecting veterans, children and the elderly — and leading to $26 billion in extra costs annually to the U.S. health care system.

“The rise of lethal new strains of bacteria has made it imperative that the government takes immediate action to support the development of new drugs to combat these deadly germs,” Senator Coons said. “This legislation will spur innovation that will protect the health of our citizens and support jobs here in Delaware. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to support innovative pharmaceutical research that will keep Delawareans safe and healthy.”

The GAIN Act was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).

“Superbugs, or mutant germs resistant to present antibiotics, are a growing public health horror – now targeted through this bipartisan proposal to speed creation and approval of new drugs against them,” Senator Blumenthal said. “The threat of these new resistant bacterial infections, particularly threatening to children, seniors, and our returning troops, requires innovative antibiotics. Incentives for research and development and fast track FDA review are needed to stop these bacteria and infections from spreading.”

“Drug-resistant infections in Tennessee and across our country are posing an increasing threat to public health, and the federal government can play a constructive role in helping spur innovation of new drugs for treating these conditions,” Senator Corker said. “Without putting any federal dollars at stake, our bill provides meaningful market incentives to encourage development of new antibiotics that will help save lives and reduce health care costs. By strengthening this segment of the market that currently has only a handful of new drugs in the pipeline, we can help ensure Americans have access to treatments capable of combating these deadly infections.”

Antibiotic resistant “superbugs” have been on the rise for the last decade: antibiotic-resistant Staph infections have increased 50 percent and are responsible for over 17,000 deaths in the United States each year.

Troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are particularly vulnerable to infection by a new, highly-resistant and contagious strain of Acinetobacter bacteria. Eighty-nine percent of infections caused by mutant strains of Acinetobacter are resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics and 15 percent are resistant to all forms of treatment.

Representatives Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) and Diana Degette (D-Colo.) introduced the GAIN Act in the U.S. House of Representatives in June.

###