Senator Coons cosponsors resolution honoring Americans who were responsible for Osama bin Laden’s demise

WASHINGTON – A day after delivering a speech on the floor of the Senate to express his gratitude to the men and women fighting for the security of our nation, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) cosponsored a bipartisan resolution today honoring members of the military and intelligence community whose work over the last 10 years was responsible for Osama bin Laden’s demise.

“Recognizing our service members’ extraordinary effort to strengthen our national security and defend Americans against terrorist attacks since September 11th is the least we can do,” Senator Coons said. “The bipartisan manner that this chamber came together in support of this resolution reflects the deep gratitude and admiration of all Americans.”

The resolution, S. Res. 159, was cosponsored by all 100 Senators and passed by voice vote this afternoon.

Senator Coons’ floor speech on Monday can be read on the senator’s website at: http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/saluting-the-service-of-our-troops-since-september-11-2001

The speech can also be viewed on the senator’s website at:

http://www.coons.senate.gov/blog/post/video-chris-salutes-us-forces-for-their-service-since-9/11

The full text of the S. Res. 159:

Honoring the members of the military and intelligence community who carried out the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and for other purposes.

Whereas, on May 1, 2011, United States personnel killed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden during the course of a targeted strike against his secret compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan;

Whereas Osama bin Laden was the leader of the al Qaeda terrorist organization, the most significant terrorism threat to the United States and the international community;

Whereas Osama bin Laden was the architect of terrorist attacks which killed nearly 3,000 civilians on September 11, 2001, the most deadly terrorist attack against our Nation, in which al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in

New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and, due to heroic efforts by civilian passengers to disrupt the terrorists, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania;

Whereas Osama bin Laden planned or supported numerous other deadly terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies, including the 1998 bombings of United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, and against innocent civilians in countries around the world, including the 2004 attack on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain and the 2005 bombings of the mass transit system in London, England;

Whereas, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the United States, under President George W. Bush, led an international coalition into Afghanistan to dismantle al Qaeda, deny them a safe haven in Afghanistan and ungoverned areas along the Pakistani border, and bring

Osama bin Laden to justice;

Whereas President Barack Obama in 2009 committed additional forces and resources to efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan as ‘‘the central front in our enduring struggle against terrorism and extremism’’;

Whereas the valiant members of the United States Armed Forces have courageously and vigorously pursued al Qaeda and its affiliates in Afghanistan and around the world;

Whereas the anonymous, unsung heroes of the intelligence community have pursued al Qaeda and affiliates in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and around the world with tremendous dedication, sacrifice, and professionalism;

Whereas the close collaboration between the Armed Forces and the intelligence community prompted the Director of National Intelligence, General James Clapper, to state, ‘‘Never have I seen a more remarkable example of focused integration, seamless collaboration, and sheer professional magnificence as was demonstrated by the Intelligence Community in the ultimate demise of Osama bin Laden.’’;

Whereas, while the death of Osama bin Laden represents a significant blow to the al Qaeda organization and its affiliates and to terrorist organizations around the world, terrorism remains a critical threat to United States national security; and

Whereas President Obama said, ‘‘For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our Nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.’’: Now, therefore, be it resolved, That the Senate—

(1) declares that the death of Osama bin Laden represents a measure of justice and relief for the families and friends of the nearly 3,000 men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, the men and women in the United States and around the world who have been killed by other al Qaeda-sponsored attacks, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the intelligence community who have sacrificed their lives pursuing Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda;

(2) commends the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the United States intelligence community for the tremendous commitment, perseverance, professionalism, and sacrifice they displayed in bringing Osama bin Laden to justice;

(3) commends the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the United States intelligence community for committing themselves to defeating, disrupting, and dismantling al Qaeda;

(4) commends the President for ordering the successful operations to locate and eliminate Osama bin Laden; and

(5) reaffirms its commitment to disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al Qaeda and affiliated organizations around the world that threaten United States national security, eliminating a safe haven for terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and bringing terrorists to justice.

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Senator Coons meets with Delaware’s Prudential Spirit of Community award winners

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) welcomed two Delaware students to his Washington office today to congratulate them on receiving the 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Charter School of Wilmington senior Jon Austin Osborne and Cab Calloway School of the Arts sixth-grader Genevieve Spence were among 102 young people from across the nation to receive the award.

“It was a true honor to meet with these outstanding young people,” Senator Coons said. “I was impressed to learn about their humanitarian efforts and their deep commitment to serving their communities. They are true role models for their peers and I offered them my sincerest congratulations.”

Osborne co-founded the student-run Humanitarian League of Delaware to encourage young people to participate in humanitarian activities and now has 80 students involved in both local and international volunteer projects. Members of the organization, including Osborne, have traveled to Haiti to organize a children’s summer camp, assist with food distribution and to help at a clinic.

Spence, after learning about the benefits of mental and physical exercises for Alzheimer’s patients, came up with the idea of donating Wii video game systems to local nursing homes. She raised money by making and selling friendship bracelets, holding a garage sale and soliciting a donation from Best Buy. She has also spent time visiting with and playing with the residents. 

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The awards were created in 1995 by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to honor middle and high school students at the local, state and national level for outstanding service to others.

Statement from Senator Coons on the death of Osama bin Laden

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on President Obama’s announcement that Osama bin Laden has been killed by U.S. forces:

“This is a momentous development for our country. For nearly 10 years, America and its allies around the world have fought to stop the terrorism of al Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden. President Obama’s announcement tonight that bin Laden has been killed is a tribute to the hard, dedicated work of our armed forces. I hope his death will both make the world safer and speed the day when our troops can return home.”

Senator Coons now accepting applications for nominations to service academies

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) is now accepting applications from young Delawareans who are seeking a nomination to the United States Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, or the Military Academy at West Point.

“One of my greatest honors as a Senator is nominating bright young Delawareans who wish to not only serve in our armed forces, but to lead in them,” Senator Coons said. “Our service academies attract some of the brightest and most responsible students in the country. I look forward to nominating some of Delaware’s most promising young men and women to the academies’ 2016 classes.”

The application deadline for those wishing to enroll in the Class of 2016 is September 30, 2011. In order to be considered for an appointment to one of the academies, an applicant must meet the eligibility requirements required by law and receive a nomination from a Member of Congress.  Applicants must be United States citizens and be at least 17 years old, but not have passed their 23rd birthday as of July 1, 2012. They must be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

Students pursuing a nomination should contact Senator Coons’ Milford Office at (302) 424-8090 or visit his website at http://www.coons.senate.gov/learn/academies to obtain an application and for additional information about the academy nomination process.

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Middletown math teacher recognized with Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney (all D-Del.) congratulated Cedar Lane Elementary School third-grade math teacher Linda Bledsoe on being recognized by President Obama today as a recipient of the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

“We are very proud that President Obama today recognized Cedar Lane Elementary School’s Linda Bledsoe with the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching,” the Delegation said Thursday. “The modern economy is rooted in science and technology, and success in either field is incumbent on a strong bedrock of mathematics. By equipping our young people with the skills to succeed in those areas at a young age, teachers like Linda Bledsoe and the five other extraordinary Delaware teachers who were finalists for this award are making our economy stronger and our nation more competitive. We congratulate Linda on this prestigious achievement.”

Cedar Lane Elementary School is in the Appoquinimink School District in Middletown.

The White House’s announcement follows:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   

April 28, 2011

President Honors Outstanding Math and Science Teachers

WASHINGTON, DC — President Obama today named 85 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.  The educators will receive their awards in Washington, D.C. later this year.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level.  Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through 12th grades.  The 2010 awardees named today teach kindergarten through 6th grade.

Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and the Administration.

President Obama has committed to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and prepare 100,000 effective science and mathematics teachers over the next decade.  These commitments build on the President’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign, which has attracted more than $700 million in donations and in-kind support from corporations, philanthropies, service organizations, and others to help bolster science and technology education in the classroom.

“The teachers we honor today have demonstrated uncommon skill and devotion in the classroom, nurturing the young minds of tomorrow’s science and math leaders,” said President Obama.  “America’s competitiveness rests on the excellence of our citizens in technical fields, and we owe these teachers a debt of gratitude for strengthening America’s prosperity.”

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Delaware Delegation Trumpets Federal Support for Local Community and Education Projects to Improve Quality of Life in Delaware

WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) trumpeted federal support for two projects that will help improve the quality of life in rural communities in Delaware. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program has selected the MOT Charter School, Inc., in Middletown, Del., for a $2.8 million Rural Development loan to expand its existing facility by 19,000 square feet.  A new wing will include a library, two additional classrooms, a lobby, a multi-purpose area, a booster room, and bathrooms. 

“In today’s economic reality, schools throughout Delaware and the nation are forced to make tough budget cuts and spending decisions, resulting in inadequate libraries and dilapidated buildings,” said the Delegation. “Delaware’s students and educators deserve better. This loan from the USDA helps MOT Charter School expand and modernize to better meet its growing student body’s educational needs.”

“The loan from the USDA has made possible a much needed expansion of the MOT Charter School facility that our school community has been anticipating and working toward for a long time,” said Linda J. Jennings, Head of MOT Charter School.  “We are so grateful to Denise MacLeish and her team for the energy and assistance they have provided to us to make this happen.”

Additionally, USDA Rural Development selected the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company to receive a $50,000 grant to purchase wild land firefighting equipment and a utility response vehicle.

“Every day, the men and women of our fire and emergency service organizations put their lives on the line to protect our communities and our property in Delaware, and it is critically important that we give reliable equipment to ensure that those first responders are safe and that all Delawareans have access to critical, life-saving services,” said the Delegation.

 Through the years, Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program has been a vital funding source for many rural communities. The 135 projects in 40 states, Puerto Rico and the Western Pacific are being financed through $234 million in loans and grants from USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program. Eligible projects include essential community facilities for public use in rural areas such as fire protection, safety, health care, education and many other community needs.

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Statement from Senator Coons on one-year anniversary of BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“The consequences of the BP Deepwater Horizon spill one year ago today were significant and enduring. Eleven people lost their lives, nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil spilled into the Gulf, and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands along the Gulf coast were threatened. We must ensure that the ecosystems of the Gulf fully recover from this disaster and that Gulf Coast communities are fairly compensated for the losses incurred by it. But as we attempt to restore what was lost, we must be careful in how we as a nation invest in energy production moving forward.

“Our nation’s quest for energy independence is critical to our economic future. But it must also be respectful of the environment and the health and safety of the people and communities needed to develop domestic energy.  The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling determined the disaster to be ‘foreseeable and preventable’ and made a series of recommendations that would, if followed, make offshore drilling less risky. Still, when the potential for drilling for oil off Delaware’s shores was proposed last year, I vocally opposed it because I believed the risk was too high for our state’s ecosystem and economy.

“The question of how we power our future is one of the most critical of our time, with significant implications for our economy, national security, and environment. I believe Delaware’s future is in clean, renewable energy sources. We must continue the work of diversifying our energy portfolio and develop the technologies to draw on the energy from all around us, instead of only from the fossil fuels below us.”

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Delaware Delegation Holds Affordable Care Act Roundtable for Local Health Care Providers

DOVER, Del. – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. Carney (all D-Del.), in partnership with AARP and Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services, convened a roundtable event at Delaware Technical and Community College in Dover for local health care providers to discuss the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and its effect on Delawareans, particularly seniors. 

Leaders of Delaware’s senior and community health center facilities are valuable resources for their membership and patients. This informational event gave local health care providers the opportunity to take detailed information about Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act back to the patients who use their services. The roundtable also provided a forum for providers to offer feedback and ask questions about the law and its impact on Delaware’s health care system. 

“The Affordable Care Act helps patients, particularly seniors, take charge of their health in various ways,” said Sen. Carper. “It is our responsibility to ensure that Delawareans have accurate information readily available to them regarding the impact of the Affordable Care Act.  We also have a responsibility to find new ways to further improve and strengthen Delaware’s health care system, including Medicare and Medicaid. Reaching out to Delaware’s leading health care providers is just one of the many ways we continue our outreach and education efforts of the Affordable Care Act.”

“The Affordable Care Act is already having a significant, positive impact on the way many Delawareans access health care,” said Sen. Coons. “With the ongoing debate in Washington about the federal government’s budget priorities and efforts by some to undo the progress we’ve made with the Affordable Care Act, it’s important that we keep Delawareans up to speed on how their medical coverage is being affected. I know that my office, Senator Carper’s office, and Congressman Carney’s office are all standing by ready to answer any questions Delawareans have about Medicare, Medicaid, and the benefits of the Affordable Care Act.”

“I was happy to partner with Sens. Carper and Coons to provide a forum for those individuals who are on the front lines working with seniors to ask questions and discuss the impact of the Affordable Care Act on Medicare,” said Rep. Carney. “While the Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, it is an important first step in controlling spiraling costs while expanding access to health care for thousands of Delawareans. As we continue implementation of the Affordable Care Act, I believe it is important to continue to engage in a dialogue about how the Act affects Delawareans.”

The Affordable Care Act includes many provisions to help to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, including free preventive health services and free annual wellness visits, as discounts on prescription drugs for Medicare recipients and stronger fraud and waste protections.  

In addition to Sens. Carper and Coons, the panel members included Secretary Rita Landgraf, Debbie Feierman of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Brian Posey of AARP, and representatives from the Aging and Disability Resource Center, and Social Security Administration.  

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Senator Coons applauds Delaware House for passage of civil unions bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today applauded the Delaware House’s passage of SB 30 – a bill that would make same-sex couples in Delaware eligible for civil union status.

“This principled step forward for Delaware is long overdue. Equality is a central part of what it means to be an American and it is incumbent on all of us to be working toward building a Delaware that treats all of its citizens equally, regardless of who they love. I congratulate the General Assembly on passing SB 30 and look forward to Governor Markell adding his signature to this measure.”

SFRC Hearing Opening Statement on President’s FY2012 Budget Request for Africa

As prepared for delivery at a subcommittee hearing to review the President’s FY2012 budget for Africa on April 14, 2011 

I am pleased to chair today’s Africa subcommittee hearing examining the President’s budget request for sub-Saharan Africa in Fiscal Year 2012.  It is a distinct privilege to serve as subcommittee chairman, and I am grateful for the opportunity given to me by Chairman Kerry and my colleagues on the Committee. 

I am also honored to serve with my friend Senator Isakson, and look forward to working with him in the 112th Congress on issues we both care deeply about in Africa including economic growth, security, stability, governance, global health, food security, conflict prevention, and democratic institution-building.

The goal of today’s hearing is to review the President’s budget request for Africa, including bilateral and regional priorities for foreign assistance.  This hearing will help inform the Committee of the administration’s program and resource priorities in sub-Saharan Africa, as well the basis and projections for requested resources.  The discussion is intended to also include priority initiatives such as the Global Health Initiative including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Feed the Future, as well as the Millennium Challenge Corporation.  

One of the objectives of the hearing is to consider the whole of government approach toward the region and to explore the impact of proposed budget cuts in the continuing resolution, or CR, for Fiscal Year 2011.  Within a constrained budgetary environment, these are issues of critical importance for the Committee and Congress as we consider the implications of tightening our belt.  Unfortunately, limited resources require difficult decisions and trade-offs regarding budgetary priorities.  I hope to hear from our witnesses about the implications of reductions in foreign assistance, and the projected impact these cuts will have in Africa where the need is great and the resources are scarce.

According to the long-term CR, on which we will vote later today, the Pentagon’s budget is more than ten times larger than that of State.  Today, we will consider cuts to the State budget from last year while raising the Pentagon budget, which demonstrates about our growing emphasis on military spending at the expense of foreign assistance.  I am pleased that both Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mullen have expressed their strong support for increased resources for the State Department, so it can continue to lead U.S. diplomacy and development as a means of mitigating the potential for military conflict.

Today we will hear from the State Department, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the MCC, about their strategy for sub-Saharan Africa, as reflected in their budget requests for the next fiscal year.  We will examine the administration’s priorities and means by which it aims to meet competing goals in the region, responding not only to U.S. objectives but also to regional and bilateral needs. 

As demonstrated by this chart, the total foreign assistance request for Africa in FY12 is $7.8 billion, nearly three-quarters of which is dedicated to global health.  This program increased dramatically during the Bush administration as a result of new initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS and malaria.  The Global Health Initiative (GHI) was developed under President Obama in 2009, and I look forward to hearing today from the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Eric Goosby, about future plans for the GHI and specifically PEPFAR.

Six percent of the Africa budget request is dedicated toward the Feed the Future initiative, which was developed by President Obama to last year to address global hunger and poverty.  Twelve of twenty focus countries are in Africa, representing one-third of the total funding.  With USAID as the agency responsible for coordination of Feed the Future, I look forward to hearing from Deputy Assistant Administrator Jandhyala about agricultural development programs and food security, as well as the wide range of other areas of cooperation between USAID and State with regard to Africa policy and planning.

After the initiative funding, only 23% of the budget – or $1.8 billion – remains, which must be carefully divided between the wide range of foreign assistance priorities overseen by the State Department, such as strengthening democratic institutions, fostering sustainable economic growth, preventing and resolving armed conflict, and helping to address transnational threats, among other issues.  Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson is here to discuss these priorities and challenges, as well as current events in Africa, such as the Nigerian elections and violence in Cote d’Ivoire.

Finally, we will hear from Patrick Fine, Vice President for Compact Implementation for the Millennium Challenge Corporation about the MCC’s work in Africa, where it focuses 70% of its funding.  The MCC is a smart investment that has contributed to poverty reduction through economic growth in well-governed countries, and I look forward to hearing from Mr. Fine about his plans to expand and sustain past success in light of anticipated budget cuts.

I appreciate our witnesses being here today, and look forward to your testimony.