A few days left for employers to sign up for delegation’s Sussex County job fair

WILMINGTON, Del. – With their Sussex County job fair a little over a week away, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney reminded employers in the region that there is still time to sign up for a booth at the fair. The free job fair will be held on Monday, September 26 from 9 am to 3 pm at Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown.

Dozens of employers and exhibitors are already signed-up for the job fair, including M&T Bank, which needs to hire 60 people for its Millsboro location by November. Recruiters from M&T’s human resources department will conduct on-the-spot interviews for part-time and full-time operations specialists, senior telephone service representatives, telephone sales representatives, supervisors and early-stage credit counselors.

“Job fairs offer a great opportunity to connect Delawareans searching for jobs with prospective employers,” said Senator Carper. “Employers at jobs fairs held earlier this year in New Castle and Kent Counties saw a strong turnout from job seekers, and we hope to continue that success in Sussex County. Far too many Delawareans are still struggling to find work. That’s why one of the top priorities for me, Governor Markell and the rest of the Congressional delegation is to find ways to encourage job creation in Delaware. I encourage Delawareans seeking job opportunities – and Delaware businesses looking to hire – to attend this upcoming job fair.”

“We’ve got a terrific array of businesses ready to hire lined up for the fair, but there is still room for a few more,” Senator Coons said.  “That M&T Bank has 60 openings to fill and will be conducting on-site interviews at the job fair says a lot, I think, about the confidence they have in the capabilities of the Delawareans they’re going to meet at the fair.  I really encourage Delawareans looking to get back to work to come to this job fair on the 26th with resumes in-hand.  Just as we did for our job fairs in Wilmington in April and in Dover in May, we are coming together as a community to connect our neighbors looking for jobs in and around Sussex County with employers who are ready to hire.”

“The Sussex County job fair is an excellent opportunity for employers to find qualified workers and for qualified workers to find employers,” said Congressman Carney. “I encourage more businesses to sign-up in the next 10 days, and I urge anyone looking for a new job to attend the job fair to learn about the different companies looking to hire Delawareans.”

Employers who’d like to recruit at the job fair should call Latisha Bracy at 302-573-6345 or email her at workshop@coons.senate.gov.

In addition to networking with companies looking to hire, job seekers can also take advantage of the myriad workshops, career counseling and resume review opportunities, including:

• “New Strategies for Changing Times:  Transform Your Mind and Embrace Change,” with career coach Joyce Dungee Proctor
• Resume review with a career services counselor from Delaware Technical and Community College
• “Applying for jobs with the State of Delaware,” with the Delaware Office of Management and Budget

Job-seekers looking for more information or to pre-register should call Senator Coons’ office at 302-573-6345, or email workshop@coons.senate.gov.

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Senator Coons congratulates Delaware’s 2011 Blue Ribbon Schools

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today offered his congratulations to Delaware’s three 2011 Blue Ribbon Schools. Long Neck Elementary in Millsboro, Nellie Hughes Stokes Elementary in Dover, and West Park Place Elementary in Newark were among only 300 schools across the country given this award by the U.S. Department of Education.

“Educating our children is a team effort that takes great dedication, and I offer my sincerest congratulations to the students, teachers, principals and parents who played a key role in their schools earning this distinguished honor,” Senator Coons said.  “Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, and we must do all that we can to nurture them from an early age.  I look forward to visiting these schools and seeing first-hand what they’re doing right.”

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students.  The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best practices in teaching and school leadership.

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Delaware Congressional Delegation Congratulates Dover Air Force Base on excellence award finalist selection

WILMINGTON – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) congratulated Dover Air Force Base for its selection as a finalist in the 2011 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

The Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations. Excellent installations enable better mission performance and enhance the quality of life for military men and women and their families. Each winning installation succeeded in providing excellent working, housing and recreational conditions.

Dover Air Force Base won this award in 2008 for their performance in FY2007. This year, the other finalist is Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. 

“Through my many visits to the base, including my first one over 40 years ago as a young naval flight officer, I have been impressed by the level of professionalism and dedication shown by the men and women of Team Dover,” said Sen. Carper. “As patriots of our great nation, they have forged a unique partnership with the local Dover community as well as communities throughout Delaware. Through recent and ongoing improvements such as the installation of high-temperature water lines throughout the base, a new Consolidated Communications Facility, and the new Chapel Center, the Dover Air Force Base continues its commitment to operating a first-class facility and is very deserving of this award.”

“Each massive aircraft that flies in and out of Dover Air Force Base is a symbol of the extraordinary work done by the men and women who serve our nation at Dover Air Force Base,” said Sen. Coons. “Their mission-critical work transporting cargo and military personnel around the globe is vital to our national security, and I know how proud Delawareans, myself included, are of the base’s many military accomplishments. Every time I have the opportunity to visit, I am reminded that each Airman here touches the lives of U.S. service members throughout the world, and when our fallen heroes return to American soil on the tarmac in Dover, the dignity, honor and respect they show their brothers and sisters in arms touches their families. I congratulate everyone at Dover Air Force Base and offer my gratitude for the professionalism, spirit and determination they show each and every day. It leaves no doubt why America has the finest military force in the history of the world.”

“Dover Air Force Base has been performing critical military functions for the United States since 1941,” said Congressman Carney. “In addition to being a hub for cargo and personnel transports, the base serves as the U.S. arrival point for our fallen heroes — a solemn but incredibly important responsibility. The employees at Dover have always carried out their work with the professionalism, patriotism and thoroughness that the nation expects. Delawareans know that it is a privilege and an honor to have Dover Air Force Base in our state, and this award underscores why the base will be there for generations to come.”

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Carper, Coons, Carney announce $1 million for the University of Delaware to help train next generation of energy efficient experts

WILMINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney (all D-Del) today announced a total of $1 million in Department of Energy (DOE) funding to help train undergraduate-and graduate-level engineering students at the University of Delaware in manufacturing efficiency.  This award puts these students one step closer to becoming the nation’s next generation of industrial energy efficiency experts.

“This grant from the Department of Energy will allow University of Delaware students to apply what they have learned in the classroom about energy efficiency to assist real manufacturing businesses,” said Senator Carper. “This funding will not only allow the students to gain real world expertise in their field, but also provide savings to the manufacturers they assist. That’s what I call a win-win for businesses and Delaware’s next generation of engineers.”

“As a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, I am thrilled that this extremely important program has been extended, and I’m excited by the notion that we are continuing to train part of the next generation of industrial energy efficiency experts right here in Delaware,” Senator Coons said.  “Delaware has a strong grounding in clean energy manufacturing.  We can enhance that by promoting clean energy management opportunities to local manufacturing companies while providing job skills and experience to energy-savvy students.  I‘ve seen the work of the students in this program, and I look forward to following their work as they continue to play an important role in making companies more energy efficient.”

“A great way to increase production of American-made goods is by teaching young people about engineering and energy efficiency in the manufacturing industry,” said Congressman Carney. “This grant will help prepare Delaware’s workforce for the 21st century while enabling our state’s companies to improve production, streamline management, and develop relationships with quality talent.”

The University of Delaware is one of 24 universities in 23 states across the country to receive the award.  Each school will receive $200,000 to $300,000 per year for up to five years to help university teams to gain practical training on core energy management concepts through DOE’s Industrial Assessment Center program. 

The Industrial Assessment Center provides local manufacturing plants with energy audits and suggestions to reduce energy use and save money.  Through the Industrial Assessment Center program, engineering students will have the opportunity to conduct energy assessments in a broad range of manufacturing facilities.  Students will receive extensive training in industrial processes, energy assessment procedures and energy management principles.  Under the program, each Industrial Assessment Center will be expected to train at least 10 to 15 students per year, conduct approximately 20 energy assessments annually, and perform extensive follow-up reporting, tracking, implementation, and management-improvement activities. 

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Senators Carper, Coons join bipartisan group of senators to announce formation of oceans caucus

WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators to form a new Senate Oceans Caucus. The Caucus will work to increase awareness and find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts, which support millions of jobs in America and contribute more to the country’s GDP than the entire farm sector, grossing more than $230 billion in 2004. In Delaware, beach tourism contributes over $665,000,000 to the state’s economy each year.

“Delaware enjoys many rewards as a coastal state. Each year, millions of people visit our pristine shores, which helps create jobs and economic activity throughout the state,” said Sen. Carper. “But with those rewards come many challenges. The state’s coast line and coastal communities face serious threats from climate change and rising sea levels – threats that other coastal states face as well. The Senate Oceans Caucus will bring together Members from ocean states to discuss how to work together to sustain and improve our oceans and the communities that depend on them for their livelihood.”

“Our oceans are important not only to the health of our planet, but to the economic vitality of our states,” said Sen. Coons.  “Between tourism, recreation, energy, shipping and fishing, a wide variety of industries in Delaware are dependent on the seas.  The oceans are part of who we are, and we must do all we can to protect them.  That’s why I joined the Oceans Caucus, and why I look forward to working with my colleagues in exploring ways the Senate can help protect our oceans.”

Following today’s inaugural meeting, the members announced that U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will serve as Caucus co-chairs. They will work closely with the Chair and Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).  Other Caucus members are Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Scott Brown (R-MA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), John Kerry (D-MA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

 Ocean and coastal organizations supporting the Senators’ efforts include: the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the Ocean Conservancy, the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), and Ocean Champions.

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Senator Coons urges continued vigilance on enforcement of civil rights protections

WASHINGTON – Chairing a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) underlined the need for continued vigilance at the DOJ in protecting civil rights, and expressed his support for the progress made by the division under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez.

“Especially in the area of hate crimes, we need leaders and members of the community to stand up and say that these abhorrent acts do not represent us and they will not be tolerated,” Senator Coons said, referring in his opening statement to an incident in Delaware earlier this month where a epithet-laced cross was placed in the front yard of an African American family. “That is why we are here today. Congress has an important role to play in oversight of all Executive Branch activities, of course, but when it comes to civil rights, it is critical that both branches are on the same page — that we are working together, hand in hand, to fight for that more perfect union.”

Addressing Assistant Attorney General Perez, the hearing’s lone witness, Senator Coons said, “We’ll work on eradicating discrimination from our laws.  We need you, Mr. Perez — and all of those who work in law enforcement — to work on stopping it in our communities.”

Among the topics Senator Coons explored with Attorney General Perez during his questioning were the protection of voting rights for members of the armed forces, the application of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act to prosecute those who commit violence against others because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and the decline in the pursuit of employment discrimination cases brought under Title VII.

“It has been almost a year and a half since this Committee last conducted oversight of the Civil Rights Division,” Senator Coons said. “Among all of the important work done by the Department of Justice, the work of the Civil Rights Division is uniquely important. The Civil Rights Division is charged with enforcing our laws providing the rights of all citizens, regardless of race, creed, religion, sex or national origin, to participate in civic life.  It underpins our entire way of life because, where civil rights are not protected, equality, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are denied.”

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Statement from Senator Coons on the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons today issued the following statement marking the 10-year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks: 

“As communities here in Delaware and across the United States gather to mark this solemn day, we mourn the victims and celebrate the heroes brought together on that tragic morning. On this day 10 years ago, an attack on innocent Americans changed our nation and our world. Like so many Americans, my heart broke that day, and it continues to ache for the families of the 2,977 individuals who perished. Memorials may have since risen in New York, Arlington, and Shanksville, but we know that it is by preserving the memories of those we lost that Americans can truly honor their sacrifice.

“Our nation has been undeniably changed. Our soldiers continue to fight on foreign soil the war that was started on ours that day, and our police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel stand vigilant in the protection of our communities. We will never know the full extent of the damage caused by the 9/11 terror attacks, but as long as we fight to preserve that which makes us American — the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities on which our nation was formed and which we hold so dear — we will ensure the terrorists were unable to strike the true target for which they were aiming.”

Senator Coons talks with local police officials about how law enforcement has evolved since 9/11

DOVER, Del. — U.S. Senator Chris Coons hosted a roundtable discussion in Dover with police officials from around Delaware to explore how policing has evolved over the ten years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

“The attacks of 9/11 had a profound impact on the role of law enforcement in our communities and the way the federal government interacts with local police departments,” Senator Coons said. “Officers in every community are on the front line of a global effort to keep our families safe and secure but it’s not just about buying new hardware or having the latest high-end technology. Post-9/11 policing is about deep community engagement and stronger regional preparedness — especially in Delaware, where many of the most significant potential targets that would seriously impact our state are located just outside our borders. There is a lot other states can gain from the lessons Delaware’s law enforcement community has learned these last 10 years, which is why I hosted this discussion today.”

Senator Coons led an hour-long discussion with 15 leaders in local law enforcement on the challenges and opportunities police forces have faced since the terror attacks of 9/11. The Senator also revealed to the officers that next month he would announce the formation of a new bipartisan Senate Law Enforcement Caucus to provide additional leadership in the Senate on the issues important to America’s police officers.

This was the second time Senator Coons brought Delaware’s law enforcement community together since taking office 10 months ago. In June, Senator Coons chaired a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary in Wilmington to study-information sharing among federal and local law enforcement agencies. The hearing, titled “Building Safer Communities: the Importance of Effective Federal-Local Collaboration in Law Enforcement,” looked at Delaware’s unique success in information-sharing across its law enforcement agencies and the role it has played in reducing and preventing crime.

Regional preparedness, with an emphasis on intra-agency communication, played a substantial role in Friday’s roundtable, which included the following participants:

• Chief Keith Banks, Rehoboth Beach Police Department
• Chief William Bryson, Camden Police Department
• Chief Scott Collins, Selbyville Police Department
• Lt. Col. Jeff Cook, Delaware River and Bay Authority
• Col. Robert Coupe, Delaware State Police
• Chief Harry Downes, Delaware State University Police and Department of Public Safety
• Inspector Sean Finerty, Wilmington Police Department
• Chief Laura Giles, Elsmere Police Department
• Chief Wayne Kline, Parks & Recreation, DNREC
• Col. Michael McGowan, New Castle County Police Department
• Chief Patrick Ogden, University of Delaware Public Safety
• Lt. Col. Jim Paige, Delaware State Police
• Chief Dan Tjaden, Delaware City Police Department
• Lt. Martin Willey, Wyoming Police Department
• Chief Michael Wilson, Laurel Police Department

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Senators Carper, Coons offer support for administration decision to issue waivers for outdated education mandates

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), joined eight other moderate Democratic senators on a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today saying that while they’d prefer it if Congress moved quickly to reform and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, they would support the Department of Education’s efforts to provide states with immediate relief through waivers offered in exchange for compliance with needed reforms.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act is commonly known as No Child Left Behind.

“Like you, we are committed to working to reauthorize No Child Left Behind,” the letter states. “However, we also recognize that students are headed back to school under the current law, which is simply not working for too many students.”

“While it remains our first choice that Congress move quickly to reauthorize this critical piece of legislation, we also know that our states are in need of relief now, and our kids can’t afford to wait.  Therefore, in the absence of a reauthorization bill, we support your recent announcement that you will use your authority under the law to provide much needed relief to states in the form of an ESEA flexibility package in exchange for needed reforms.”

The text of the letter follows:

September 9, 2011

 The Honorable Arne Duncan

Secretary

United States Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C, 20202

Dear Secretary Duncan:

As another school year begins, we know that we do not have to remind you that there is no other issue more connected to the long-term prosperity of our nation than ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education.  Like you, we are committed to working to reauthorize No Child Left Behind.  However, we also recognize that students are headed back to school under the current law, which is simply not working for too many students. 

While it remains our first choice that Congress move quickly to reauthorize this critical piece of legislation, we also know that our states are in need of relief now, and our kids can’t afford to wait.  Therefore, in the absence of a reauthorization bill, we support your recent announcement that you will use your authority under the law to provide much needed relief to states in the form of an ESEA flexibility package in exchange for needed reforms.

In March of this year, we released a statement of principles that outlined principles for reauthorization and specific policies we feel will drive us towards the outcomes that our students need to remain competitive in a global economy.  As you move forward to provide states with relief from No Child Left Behind, we hope you will keep these principles and policies in mind. 

This statement included four critical principles we believe are essential to fixing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. They are as follows:

Increase Local Flexibility: NCLB created incentives for states to lower their standards, and gave states, school districts and schools little flexibility in deciding how to meet those standards. We should reverse that paradigm through reauthorization: supporting state efforts to set clear, high, common standards for students to be college-and career-ready, but allowing much greater flexibility at the state and local level to determine the best way to meet those standards.

In addition, we need to remove the administrative burden on districts and provide flexibility to people at the school level to respond to the needs of students in a comprehensive and locally driven way. We support consolidating narrowly tailored programs in order to cut red tape and allow the parents and teachers closest to kids to determine their needs, while increasing the resources available to support the comprehensive needs of those children.

Spur Innovation: A major priority for reauthorization is to create opportunities for states, districts and schools that want to push beyond the status quo through innovative and promising new approaches. In addition, where there are examples of success, it is important that we help bring those to scale. That is something we have not done well in our education system, and our students have paid the price.

Reward Success: Under NCLB, many schools and teachers made incredible gains with their students, but went without recognition for their accomplishments, because the law did not value growth. If we are going to move the system forward, it is critical that we align the incentives in the system, and reward and learn from the places and the people that are doing outstanding work.

Ensure Transparency and Equity: Title I, Part A, the largest program in ESEA provides grants to districts to enhance the educational experience of children living in concentrated poverty. When these funds arrive at a school serving such children, they should represent additional resources over and above a school’s allocation of state and local funds. Districts should be required to report non-federal expenditures transparently, to devise plans for distributing these resources equitably, and to implement these plans efficiently.

We understand that your flexibility package is not in place of comprehensive reform, but as we in Congress work towards that goal, we ask you keep these principles at the forefront of your plans.

Sincerely,

KAY R. HAGAN                                                                    MICHAEL F. BENNET

HERB KOHL                                                                           JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN

DIANNE FEINSTEIN                                                            MARY L. LANDRIEU

THOMAS R. CARPER                                                          MARK BEGICH

CHRISTOPHER A. COONS                                                MARK UDALL

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Carper, Coons, Carney announce more than $260,000 for school safety

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney (all D-Del.) today announced a total of $260,473 for the Delaware State Police from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). This funding, which was awarded on Thursday, is part of COPS’ Secure Our Schools grant program to help local law enforcement agencies work with schools in responding to growing safety and security concerns.

“Parents trust that their children will be safe while they are at school,” Senator Carper said. “This grant will not only help to ensure students will be safe at school so they are free to concentrate on learning, but also forge key ties between parents, students, community members and the police. It takes a combination of factors in the community working together to keep our children out of harm’s way and on the right path, and this grant works to bring those factors together for the greater good of our students.” 

“Every day, Delaware parents send their children to school trusting that school officials are providing their children with a safe, nurturing learning environment,” Senator Coons said. “This program encourages Delaware’s law enforcement agencies to work in collaboration with our educators, parents, and students to increase school safety. As a senator and a father of three young children, I am always looking for ways to keep kids safe and I firmly believe that our children are best served when our community works together.” 

“Keeping our children and educators safe in our schools is a top priority,” Congressman Carney said.  “The COPS program gives law enforcement agencies the tools they need to collaborate with local educators and parents to implement best practices that protect our children and ensure they are learning in a safe, positive environment.”

The Securing Our Schools grants are awarded to state and local governments that work in close partnership with public schools to improve school safety. Successful programs are based on a comprehensive safety assessment that identifies the individual needs of the schools, and law enforcement agencies receiving funding will collaborate with school administrators, teachers, students, and parents to implement solutions to school safety challenges. By supporting these community policing partnerships, the Secure Our Schools program helps protect children and prevent school-related violence in their communities.

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