Mobile Nav Open
Open Search
Close Search

Related Issues

See All Issues

Related Issues

See All Issues

Senator Coons selects Kristina Biddle of Hockessin for Senate Page Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced that Kristina Biddle, a rising junior at Saint Mark’s High School in Wilmington, Delaware, has been accepted into the U.S. Senate Page Program’s fall 2011 session.

“Having the chance to work and learn about America’s legislative branch firsthand on behalf of their home state is a tremendous opportunity for members of the United States Senate Page Program and I’m pleased to welcome Kristina Biddle of Hockessin to this prestigious program,” Senator Coons said. “I know that Kristina will put her academic and community service experience to good use in Washington. I want to offer Kristina my sincerest congratulations and look forward to working with her this fall.” 

Pages have served in the United States Congress for more than 175 years. Thirty pages – all of them high school juniors at least 16 years old — serve in the upper chamber at any one time and are selected by sitting Senators. Their duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol complex, as well as taking messages for Members, preparing the chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk.

The Senate enrolls its pages in the Senate Page School, which is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and convenes classes in the early morning before the Senate convenes. The pages are paid a salary, from which automatic deductions are made for taxes, Social Security, and a fee for housing and meals.

Kristina is the first page Senator Coons has sponsored since being sworn into office in November 2010.

###

Senator Coons named honorary chair of the CVVFA Emergency Responders Safety Institute

WILMINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Coons has been selected to serve as the honorary chair of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association’s Emergency Responder Safety Institute, which serves as an advisory group committed to reducing death and injuries to emergency responders in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

“Growing up and living in Delaware has given me a sincere appreciation of the sacrifices our state’s first responders make on a daily basis,” Senator Coons said. “I am grateful to be named honorary chair of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association’s Emergency Responder Safety Institute. I look forward to working even more closely with first responders from the Mid-Atlantic region to improve the safety of our country’s emergency personnel who are sadly still too often injured and killed serving our communities.” 

A longtime advocate for emergency responders, Senator Coons was a cosponsor and vocal supporter of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009, which was passed in December and was signed into law in January. The bill, which was the first piece of legislation Senator Coons cosponsored, provides federal funding for medical monitoring and treatment for responders and survivors exposed to toxins at Ground Zero – including 61 first responders from Delaware. 

In his four years as County Council President and six as County Executive in New Castle County, Senator Coons fought to protect first responders and improve fire dispatch, opened a new, state of the art public safety headquarters, and supported efforts to increase the number of county police officers in the force and on patrol.

Created as a committee of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, the Emergency Responder Safety Institute serves as an advisory group of public safety leaders and transportation experts committed to reducing deaths and injuries to America’s emergency responders.

To learn more about the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association’s Emergency Responder Safety Institute, click here: http://www.respondersafety.com/AboutUs.aspx.

###

Carper, Coons, Carney announce more than $78,000 for motor vehicle child safety

WILMINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney today announced a total of $78,399 for the Delaware Department of Transportation from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grant program for the 2011 fiscal year.

“This important funding will help protect our most precious cargo, our children,” Senator Carper said. “Every year, far too many children die tragically in car accidents as a result of improperly installed and maintained seat restraints. This grant gives Delaware families the resources and training they need to properly install these life-saving devices to make sure that their children are protected.”

“Protecting our children from harm works best when the government and families work together,” Senator Coons said. “As a senator and a father of three young children, I am always looking out for ways to protect our kids. By educating parents on proper child safety procedures in motor vehicles, we will help reduce the number of children who are seriously injured or killed in tragic auto accidents.”

“Properly used child restraints prevent thousands of car accident fatalities each year,” Congressman Carney said. “ Families of all income levels should be able to provide the safety and security their children need in the case of an accident. I’m hopeful that this grant funding will encourage more Delawareans to drive safely andhelp more parents protect their children while on the road.”

Child Safety and Child Booster Seats Incentive Grants are available to states that require any child under eight years of age riding in a passenger motor vehicle be secured in a child restraint, unless the child weighs more than 65 pounds or is 4 feet 9 inches or taller. The grant funds may be used for purchase and distribution of child restraints to low-income families, enforcement of child restraint laws, training on use of child restraints, and educating the public concerning the proper use and installation of child restraints.

###

In visit to Dogfish Head Brewery, Senator Coons trumpets investments in Delaware’s small businesses

MILTON, Del. — In a visit to the Dogfish Head Craft Brewing Co. on Monday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons reiterated his commitment to helping small businesses grow and getting more Delawareans back to work. Senator Coons underscored his support for S. 534, the Brewer’s Employment and Excise Relief Act, which would help small breweries like Dogfish increase production, development and local hiring. 

“Dogfish Head is one of Delaware’s great small business success stories,” Senator Coons said. “What Sam and his team have built here is a terrific example of what can be done when talent,creativity and hard work are combined with the tools and resources to succeed in this competitive market. Washington needs to be doing all it can to help get more Americans back to work, and that means helping small businesses like Dogfish grow. The Brewer’s Employment and Excise Relief Act helps level the playing field for small breweries and makes it easier for them to grow at what is a critical stage in their development.”

“We are proud of our Delaware roots here at Dogfish Head and we are proud to have Senator Chris Coons as our senator,” said Dogfish president Sam Calagione. “Both he and Senator Carper understand that righting our country’s financial ship begins at home with small businesses and main street jobs.  Senator Coons is a co-sponsor of S 534, legislation that will allow small American family-owned breweries to add thousands of jobs in every state across the nation. He has championed the importance of small business on many fronts many times. Our Dogfish Head production facility is on Chestnut Street in Milton and our pub is on Rehoboth Ave but our company is adding dozens of Main Street jobs this year and it is great to know we have the support and commitment of Senator Coons as we do our small part to move our local economy forward.” 

The Brewer’s Employment and Excise Relief Act redefines what it means to be a “small” brewery to one that produces up to 6 million barrels per year (up from 2 million barrels). It then recalibrates the federal excise tax on “small” brewers by:

  • Reducing the rate on the first 60,000 barrels each year from $7 per barrel to $3.50 per barrel
  • Reducing the rate on barrels 60,001 through 2 million from $18 per barrel to $16 per barrel

For Dogfish Head, which produces more than 125,000 barrels of its craft brews each year, this could mean savings of $340,000 a year that can be reinvested in new employees, production enhancements, and new products. 

“Whenever I visit one of Delaware’s innovative manufacturing businesses, like Dogfish,” Senator Coons said, “I ask the same question: what can I do to help you grow? Sometimes it’s an introduction to another business or elected official. Sometimes it’s legislative. But the key is, we need to make sure Delaware’s businesses have the tools they need to grow.” 

S. 534 was introduced earlier this year by Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.). It is cosponsored by Senator Coons and a bipartisan array of 34 additional senators, including — locally — Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.).

Senators Kerry and Coons explore ways to expand humanitarian aid efforts in the Horn of Africa

Washington, DC – Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, today issued a joint statement urging the administration to expand and expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid into Somalia, where famine has officially been declared in five regions: 

“In the Horn of Africa today, over 12 million people are in desperate need of food and water amidst the worst drought in three generations.  In Somalia alone, approximately 3.2 million people are in need of immediate life-saving assistance, half a million children are acutely malnourished, and more than 29,000 children under the age of 5 have tragically died.  The drought has blasted an already hostile landscape, but the actions of the terrorist group al-Shabaab and the shortcomings of the Somali government have turned a natural disaster into a human catastrophe.  

“We welcome today’s statement from the White House announcing the President’s approval of an additional $105 million for humanitarian relief efforts in the region, as well as the administration’s recent steps to facilitate greater delivery of assistance to previously inaccessible regions of southern Somalia.  Just last week, the Treasury and State Departments announced that humanitarian groups which partner with the U.S. government will be granted greater flexibility to provide aid – even in areas under al-Shabaab control.  This commendable decision will make it easier to respond to an increasingly dire and complex situation and will ultimately help save lives.

“At the same time, we encourage the administration to consider additional ways to ease and expedite the provision of aid. Specifically, it should explore expanding the pool of those licensed to provide assistance in southern Somalia to include U.S. humanitarian groups funded by private donors or other countries. While it is absolutely imperative to restrict the flow of resources to al-Shabaab, we must draw on all available resources as we balance security concerns with pressing humanitarian needs.

“The international community must step up and tackle this crisis with the same level of commitment that it has demonstrated in the past; right now, donations are far below those for previous disasters.  We must mobilize with all deliberate speed.  Too many lives are on the line, and the people of Somalia and throughout the Horn of Africa cannot afford to wait.”

Statement from Senator Coons on S&P downgrade of United States’ credit rating

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today released the following statement after Standard & Poor’s announced Friday it was downgrading the United States’ credit rating from AAA to AA+. The ratings agency said the federal government “fell well short” of the serious deficit-reduction strategy necessary for long-term economic stability.

“I am disappointed but not surprised by S&P’s decision. Stability requires balance. By refusing to negotiate in good faith, Republicans turned the debt ceiling debate into a hostage crisis and last night we saw its first casualty. Congress was explicitly and repeatedly warned that such reckless political behavior would result in an insufficient plan for addressing our long-term debt and would have real consequences. We knew full well that ratings agencies, markets and foreign governments were watching closely to see whether Congress would handle this responsibly, and it failed. When is Washington going to stop thinking about the next election and start focusing on the next generation?

“As stated by the Bowles-Simpson commission, the ‘gang of six,’ and economists across the board, the United States needed to find $4 trillion in savings over the next 10 years to credibly stabilize our staggering debt. Unwillingness to share in the sacrifice resulted in just $2.1 trillion in savings in the deal Congress passed on Tuesday. We must reform the tax system in a way that increases revenue without raising tax rates, by closing the tax loopholes that allow billionaires and many large corporations to get away with paying far less than their fair share. We must also reform our entitlement programs to ensure they will stay strong and solvent over the long-term.

“In settling on this ‘small’ deal last week, Congress failed in its duty to protect the American people from this very real threat to our nation’s economy. If we don’t start taking seriously our nation’s crippling deficits, this may not be the last downgrade the United States will face.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Budget Committee.

Senator Coons releases new Correspondence from the Commute videos focused on debt ceiling talks and responsible deficit reduction

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today released the fourth installment of his “Correspondence from the Commute” video series, but unlike previous videos, these were recorded in his Washington office last weekend while senators waited for action on a deal to avert default.

“This weekend, all the members of the Senate are here during the Republican filibuster of our debt ceiling vote,” Senator Coons said in a video to constituents explaining the change of setting. “It’s been a difficult and anxious couple of days. I’ve been taking phone calls from constituents and working with other senators to try to find a responsible compromise, and I thought I’d take a few minutes to answer your emails, calls and questions.”

In his Correspondence from the Commute series, Senator Coons responds with personalized video messages to a sampling of constituents’ letters to his office. The eight video messages released today focus on the debt ceiling debate and efforts to responsibly reduce our deficit while protecting critical investments in ournation’s competitiveness.

Videos released today include responses to:

An introductory video for this month’s batch can be viewed here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZ2ksLcOwg 

All Correspondence from the Commute videos are sent directly to the individual constituent and shared publicly on Senator Coons’ website, http://www.coons.senate.gov and on his official YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/senatorchriscoons. 

Watch as the Senator introduced theproject in February: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z0_UFtHcss

Delawareans are encouraged to express their opinions and submit questions for Senator Coons online at http://www.coons.senate.gov/contact/ or via mail to 127A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510.

Congressional delegation announces date and location for job fair in Sussex County

WILMINGTON — U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney announced today that they will host a job fair on September 26th on the Georgetown Campus of Delaware Technical and Community College in Sussex County. The legislators are now looking for employers ready to hire to come to the fair to meet with Delaware’s talented job seekers. The event follows the successful fairs hosted by the delegation in New Castle and Kent counties earlier this year.

“Far too many Delawareans are still struggling to find work,” Senator Carper said. “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. Connecting job seekers with prospective employers is one important way we can help grow our economy and I hope Delawareans seeking job opportunities attend this upcoming fair.”

“We can’t wait for Washington to move on legislation that will help get people back to work,” Senator Coons said. “These job fairs give us the opportunity to connect Delawareans with employers already offering high-quality, sustainable jobs. Helping our neighbors get back to work continues to be my top priority in the Senate, and for as long as these job fairs are successful in doing that, we’ll continue to organize them. I encourage all Delawareans who are looking for jobs to come out to the fair and engage with employers who are ready to hire.”

“Putting Delawareans back to work is my top priority,” Congressman Carney said.  “Right now, too many qualified Delaware workers are having difficulty finding jobs.  By bringing them together with businesses, public agencies, and our colleges and universities, we’re helping Delawareans get the opportunities they need to support themselves and their families, while strengthening the economy.”  

Senator Coons hosted a similar job fair in Wilmington in April and the delegation hosted a job fair in Dover in May. Combined, nearly 3,500 people attended and were connected with more than a hundred Delaware employers ready to hire.

Businesses looking to hire at the job fair should contact Latisha Bracy in Senator Coons’ office at 302-573-6345. Delawareans interested in attending should call 302-573-6345 or email workshop@coons.senate.gov for more information or to pre-register.

Senator Coons calls for increased response to devastating Horn of Africa drought and famine

WASHINGTON – Chairing a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs Wednesday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) called on the United States and the international community to intensify its response to the worst drought in Africa in more than 60 years.

“This is the most severe humanitarian crisis in a generation, affecting the food security of more than 12 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and surrounding areas,” Senator Coons said. “According to UNICEF, an estimated 2.3 million children in the region are acutely malnourished, half a million of whom are at risk of imminent death and, unfortunately, the crisis is expected to worsen in coming months.”

To address the crisis, the United States has provided $459 million in food aid, treatment for malnourished children, health care and other assistance.  The UN estimates that $2 billion of aid is needed to respond to the crisis in coming months, and only $1 billion has been committed.

“The responsibility cannot rest on our shoulders alone,” Senator Coons said. “Especially in a difficult budgetary environment, the humanitarian response to this crisis must be a shared international obligation. It is incumbent on the international community to join the United States in providing this critical aid in the near term in order to save lives, especially those of malnourished children and others in desperate need.”

The drought has led to famine in areas of Southern Somalia and a regional refugee crisis, largely due to lack of security, governance, and assistance in Somali areas under control of the al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, al-Shabaab. Aid organizations and U.S. officials estimate that more than 2,000 refugees are pouring into neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia each day. More than 180,000 Somalis have fled so far this year, putting tremendous strain on neighboring countries and refugee camps, which are already stretched beyond capacity.

In the hearing, Senator Coons urged U.S. government witnesses to clarify recent changes to legal restrictions on humanitarian organizations operating in Southern Somalia in order to facilitate the delivery of aid.  He also urged countries in the Horn of Africa, in partnership with the United States and the international community, to take measures to better prepare and respond to future droughts in order to avoid another humanitarian crisis.

“While the failure of two consecutive rainy seasons contributed to the scale of the disaster,” Senator Coons said, “the humanitarian crisis and famine that resulted highlights broader capacity, governance, infrastructure, and security problems and needs.  As the United States joins with partners in the international community to provide emergency assistance, we must also consider lessons learned in order to avert the next famine, improve food security globally, build sustainable capacity, and mitigate the impact of this crisis on future generations.”

###

Statement from Senator Coons on vote to avert default

“Today I voted for the bipartisan compromise to prevent a first-ever default on our nation’s debt, not because it was the deal I sought or the deal our nation truly needed, but because the impact of the alternative would have been catastrophic for our country. Though it was extremely important to begin the work of reining-in the deficits that threaten America’s long-term security, it was critical that we restored the confidence of the markets and prevented the devastating impacts of default from reaching nearly every American home. By averting default today, it is my hope that Washington will return its focus to our nation’s economic recovery and getting Americans back to work.”