Creating jobs and promoting innovation is focus of Senator Coons’ first bill

WASHINGTON – Three days after hosting a job fair for more than 2,200 people looking for work, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) on Thursday introduced the Job Creation Through Innovation Act – legislation that will help jumpstart domestic manufacturing and create conditions to help businesses grow and create high-quality, high-paying middle-class jobs. It is the first bill Senator Coons has sponsored since being sworn into the Senate in November.

“Having worked for years at one of Delaware’s most innovative manufacturing companies, I’ve seen firsthand the role of cutting-edge research and development in business success,” Senator Coons said. “Our nation’s economy thrives through an unstoppable combination of an innovative citizenry and investment in cutting-edge research. This bill will help revitalize the manufacturing sector and get Delawareans back to work by investing in the companies already doing cutting-edge work right here, giving those companies the flexibility to expand and grow.”

The Job Creation Through Innovation Act has five primary components: 

Expanding, simplifying and making permanent the Research & Development Tax Credit. In 1981, when the R&D credit was originally enacted into law, the U.S. was the best place in the world to perform R&D.  Now 30 years and 14 temporary credits later, there still is no commitment to a permanent credit in the U.S.  Our inaction is taking a toll on U.S.-based R&D as many countries around the globe now offer attractive, more generous research incentives.  The Act would address this problem by simplifying the R&D tax credit, making it permanent and increasing the rate from 14 to 20 percent.        

Creating a new Small Business Innovation Tax Credit. Under current law, the R&D tax credit is non-refundable, so only firms with income tax liability can benefit from the credit.  The credit’s non-refundable status poses a special problem for small, fledgling research-intensive firms.  Even when commercially successful technological innovations come from such firms, most spend substantial sums on R&D during their first few years and experience large financial losses.  For this reason, the Act would create a new Small Business Innovation Tax Credit by allowing firms with 500 employees or less to claim a new, refundable R&D credit.  

Creating a new Domestic Manufacturing Tax Credit. Although it remains one of America’s largest and most productive industries, U.S. manufacturing has been hit hard over the past decade by business closings and job losses exacerbated by the recession. R&D is a key driver of manufacturing activities, but America’s support for its manufacturers lags behind other nations, including countries like China, Brazil, and India. The Act includes a new Domestic Manufacturing Tax Credit to provide additional tax incentives to companies that both research and manufacture their products in America, stimulating job growth and helping to keep innovative research and development in the United States.

Extending the 1603 Treasury Grants Program. The Section 1603 Program provides payments for specified energy property in lieu of investment and production tax credits. Economic certainty is critical to wind, solar, geothermal, and other clean energy projects and, according to a survey of leading participants in the tax equity market, absent an extension of the 1603 program, the anticipated total financing available for renewables is expected to decrease significantly when it expired in 2010.  A one-year extension through the end of 2011 preserved investments that led to additional electricity-generating capacity, increased energy security, and new jobs. The Act provides another one-year extension through December 2012.  

Investing in the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit. The Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit – or 48C Incentive – provides a 30 percent investment tax credit to domestic manufacturers to build or expand facilities that make a range of clean energy technologies and products.  The original federal investment of $2.3 billion leveraged more than $5.4 billion of private investment that supported the creation of manufacturing jobs. The funds distributed through that first wave of projects created an estimated 17,000 jobs, plus an additional 41,000 jobs through matching private investment. The Act provides an additional $5 billion in incentives, of which up to $1.5 billion would be available for previous applications under the original solicitation.   

“Each of the aspects of the Job Creation Through Innovation Act helps our economic recovery in a different way, but they are linked by their focus on encouraging innovation,” Senator Coons said. “This is a critical moment in our nation’s economic history. Not only are we missing opportunities to create jobs, we’re falling behind in the race for innovation. Countries like China, Japan, and Canada offer more robust incentives for research and development – helping them nurture innovation and accelerate the advancement of marketable products. We can and must do better, ensuring domestic manufacturing remains a healthy part of our economy.”

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A summary of the Job Creation Through Innovation Act can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/hENf6L

The full text of the Job Creation Through Innovation Act can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/foWnsv

A blog post with answers to key questions about the Job Creation Through Innovation Act can be found here: http://bit.ly/i97IU4

Senator Coons applauds President Obama’s balanced deficit reduction strategy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement following President Obama’s announcement of a balanced framework for reducing our deficit.

“Any serious strategy for reducing our deficit needs to look beyond the relatively small portion of the budget occupied by discretionary spending and must include reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, Pentagon spending, and a comprehensive review of our tax system.

“The President’s vision takes that more holistic approach, reducing the long-term deficit by more than $4 trillion in 12 years while protecting our significant economic progress and making critical investments in education, research and development, and infrastructure to keep our country competitive globally.

“We all must share in the sacrifice and we all must live within our means.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Budget Committee.

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Senator Coons highlights Delaware Week of Service in speech on Senate floor

 Mr. Coons. I rise to mark national volunteer week and Delaware volunteer week. Americans and Delawareans will be engaged in volunteer services.  Volunteer opportunities include helping the homeless, tending to the environment and working to keep our communities safer and stronger and free from fires and accidents and injuries.

Here in the Senate, one can’t talk community service or national service or volunteerism without thanking and recognizing our colleague, Senator Barbara Mikulski from my neighboring State of Maryland.  She has been a leader for years on volunteerism, most of them alongside the late Senator Ted Kennedy, and I am proud to be working with her fight to save our national service programs.

When Delaware’s tireless governor was sworn into office in 2009, he decided to forgo the traditional governor’s inaugural ball and he along with his wonderful wife instead organized a week of service across our state.  Today, that week of service continues and has become a tremendous opportunity for non-profit organizations, community service organizations across our state connect with Delawareans excited about teaching our children the value of volunteerism, connecting with our neighbors and helping improve and strengthen our community.

I’ve long believed that those who engage in volunteerism and service to others in fact get more out of it than they put into it.  Volunteerism is a fundamental part of what it means to be American.  It is a great – some would say the greatest – part of America and its cultural traditions.  However, volunteerism need not be confined to my state or to this week.  It is something from which every American can benefit.  In my view, one of the most effective volunteerism efforts is one with which I was first engaged when I was a resident briefly of your state, when I was working for the national “I Have a Dream” Foundation in New York City many years ago.

The national AmeriCorps program, a partnership between the federal government and local nonprofit communities was launched with bipartisan support, initially an idea proposed by President Bush and then enacted by President Clinton.  The AmeriCorps program is now one which has had a tremendous impact.  It enables 75,000 Americans annually to serve via AmeriCorps with a very wide range of programs, programs where the funding is raised and its focus is directed by state-by-state commissions of volunteers — community leaders who help identify the best and most appropriate, most effective partners for this federally funded program that is also matched one to one from dollars from the local community.  So far more than 60 million hours of community service annually have been provided by AmeriCorps members.

In Delaware, the volunteer fire service is one of the strongest parts of that long and proud history of our state. There are more than seventy volunteer fire companies in our state.  They provide the vast majority of fire suppression service for our communities and they faced a real problem when I became County Executive.  A steady loss in membership, as working-class families were under more and more pressure, more folks, both parents are working, they’re under more stresses, more demands, it became more and more difficult for people to dedicate the time and the energy needed to be trained and serve as volunteer firefighters – and, in particular, to deliver ambulance service, one of the most important aspects of our volunteer fire service.  So, in partnership with our New Castle County Volunteer Firefighters Association and with the YMCA and with AmeriCorps, I worked tirelessly to launch a new AmeriCorps program called the Emergency Services Corps.

The Emergency Service Corps helps recruit volunteer firefighters, conduct CPR and first aid training, and provides fire awareness training for schoolchildren across our county.  So far they’ve recruited more than 220 new volunteer firefighters and logged more than 100,000 hours of service to our community in the five years since it was created as a partnership between all these different entities. 

I just thought, Madam President, I would draw attention to that one example today of the hundreds of AmeriCorps programs across our country that are a shining example, I think, of how the young people of this country, people of all ages across this country, bring their gifts, their talent and their spirit to volunteering.  In every generation of Americans heeding the call to service has been the answer to our greatest challenges, and with so many out of work, suffering from hunger or facing homelessness right here in our own country, I think it’s critical we all pitch in to help.  It’s an affirmation of our bonds of citizenship and compassion to fellow citizens.

I’d like to encourage everyone in my state to visit the Volunteer Delaware web site to find volunteer opportunities this week.  I’m putting a link to it on my web site at coons.senate.gov and urge those outside Delaware to participate in this national volunteerism week. 

Senator Coons marks Equal Pay Day by cosponsoring Paycheck Fairness Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today marked “Equal Pay Day” by cosponsoring the Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced Tuesday to build on the promise of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and help close the pay gap between women and men.

“The promise of equal opportunity for those who wish to strive to their fullest economic potential is a cornerstone of this nation,” Senator Coons said. “In a country where women surpass men in earning college degrees, it’s outrageous that women in Delaware still earn 78% of what men earn. I’m proud to cosponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will help us remedy this unacceptable disparity.”

The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), would improve the Equal Pay Act by:

• Clarifying the ‘any factor other than sex’ defense so that an employer trying to justify paying a man more than a woman for the same job must show that the disparity is not sex-based; but is job-related and is necessary for the business.
• Prohibiting employers from retaliating against employees who discuss or disclose salary information with their co-workers. 
• Strengthening the remedies available to include punitive and compensatory damages.  Under the EPA currently, plaintiffs can only recover back pay or, in some cases, double back pay.  The bill would ensure that women can receive the same remedies for pay discrimination that are available under other laws for discrimination based on race and national origin. 
• Requiring the Department of Labor to improve outreach and training efforts to work with employers in order to eliminate pay disparities.
• Enhancing the collection of information on women’s and men’s wages in order to more fully explore the reasons for the wage gap and help employers in addressing pay disparities.
• Create a new grant program to help strengthen the negotiation skills of girls and women.

Although women comprise 46 percent of the workforce, studies have shown they earn only 75 cents on the dollar compared to what men earn for doing the same work. African American women make only 71 cents on the dollar and Hispanic women make only 62 cents on the dollar. According to the American Association of University Women, the median salary for women in Delaware in 2009 was $37,645, as compared to $48,038 for men.

The Paycheck Fairness Act is being cosponsored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The bill is supported by the AAUW, ACLU, National Organization for Women, National Women’s Law Center, ABA, Business and Professional Women, AFL-CIO, Association for Women in Science, Women of Color Policy Network, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Committee on Pay Equity, U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, B’nai Brith, Episcopal Church, Hadassah, Islamic Society of North America, National Council of Jewish Women, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Sojourners, United Church of Christ, and United Methodists.

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Job fair assists more than 2,200 job seekers

WILMINGTON, Del. – More than 2,200 people looking for work came to a job fair hosted by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington today, eager to meet with the 80 employers and academic institutions on hand for the fair.

“Though the number of employers and attendees certainly exceeded our original expectations, the number I care most about is how many Delawareans have been hired because of their experience at the job fair today,” Senator Coons said. “I look forward to hearing from those who have been hired over the next few weeks and pledge to continue working hard to help those still looking for a job.”

With 38,000 Delawareans still unemployed, Senator Coons believes it’s not enough to simply talk about unemployment, but rather to fight aggressively to stem its tide.

While speaking to job fair attendees Monday morning, Senator Coons announced that his office would host a second job fair on June 1st downstate – more convenient for residents of Kent and Sussex Counties.

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Senators express “deep concern” for ongoing crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, call for end to the violence and for Gbagbo to step down

WASHINGTON — Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, Ranking Member Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday to express “deep concern” for the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. The Senators were joined on the letter by Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

“We are unified in calling for an immediate end to violence and protection for innocent civilians,” the Senators wrote. “We call on former President Laurent Gbagbo to immediately step down, and we urge you to work with the international community to ensure his safe departure from Cote d’Ivoire.”

“Mr. Gbagbo has been accused of forcefully thwarting the will of the Ivoirian people, and his forces, reportedly including mercenaries, have been accused of targeting innocent civilians, including women, as well as the United Nations mission,” the Senators wrote. “This violence must stop, and we must continue to strongly support international efforts to eliminate the heavy weapons assaults.  We must also support coordinated international efforts to assist the tens of thousands of Ivorian refugees and protect civilians, peacekeepers, and members of the diplomatic community.”

The text of the letter follows:

April 8, 2011

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Madame Secretary:

We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the ongoing crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.  We appreciate your leadership on this critical issue and share your view that two issues are paramount: first, the fulfillment of Cote d’Ivoire’s democratic process, and second, the protection of civilians. We are unified in calling for an immediate end to violence and protection for innocent civilians. We call on former President Laurent Gbagbo to immediately step down, and we urge you to work with the international community to ensure his safe departure from Cote d’Ivoire. 

The United Nations, African Union, and international community have all recognized the legitimacy of the November 2010 elections in Cote d’Ivoire and the victory of Alassane Ouattara.  Africa has seen too many elections result in unrest and manipulation, and democratic institution building in the region would suffer as a result of the de-legitimization of the Ivorian election.  The African Union, United Nations, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have clearly affirmed President Ouattara’s victory, and it is past time that Mr. Gbagbo recognized the results of the recent election.

Mr. Gbagbo has been accused of forcefully thwarting the will of theIvoirian people, and his forces, reportedly including mercenaries, have been accused of targeting innocent civilians, including women, as well as the United Nations mission.  This violence must stop, and we must continue to strongly support international efforts to eliminate the heavy weapons assaults.  We must also support coordinated international efforts to assist the tens of thousands of Ivorian refugees and protect civilians, peacekeepers, and members of the diplomatic community.

Civilian protection is an obligation for all the parties in this conflict, and there have been disturbing reports of mass atrocities committed by both sides that demand investigation.  It is incumbent on President Ouattara to lead his forces in a mannerconsistent with international standards, which must also be upheld by UN and international peacekeepers.  Those found responsible for perpetrating violence must be held accountable for their actions.

Finally, we urge you to continue working with the United Nations, African Union, and member states to help create a more stable future for Cote d’Ivoire.  This situation will not end with a transfer of power at the presidential palace.  Rather, it will require committed efforts by the Ouattara government to promote reunification, reconstruction, and reconciliation, which will necessitate continued engagement from the international community and ongoing American leadership.  We look forward to working with you on these important matters of security, peace, and accountability in Cote d’Ivoire.

Sincerely,

Senator Christopher A. Coons
Senator Johnny Isakson
Senator John Kerry
Senator Saxby Chambliss
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin
Senator Sherrod Brown
Senator Claire McCaskill

Statement from Senator Coons on the avoidance of a government shutdown

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the FY2011 budget deal reached by Senate and House leadership late Friday night to avoid a shutdown of the federal government.

“I am pleased that leaders in the Senate and House were able to reach a budget agreement tonight to avoid a shutdown of the federal government, which would have had wide-ranging, negative impacts on Delawareans and all Americans. It is my hope that the serious discussions in future budget negotiations are not similarly delayed by ideological debates over social policy.

“With government operations now continuing normally, our job fair on Monday will proceed as planned. More than 50 employers will be with us at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington to help get Delawareans back to work.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Budget Committee.

Delaware job fair will happen regardless of federal government shutdown

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced Friday that if the federal government shuts down because of an inability to reach a budget agreement, his job fair scheduled for Monday will continue as planned.

“If the government shuts down and my staff is unable to work at the job fair as planned,” Senator Coons said, “volunteers from the Delaware Department of Labor and the Delaware Economic Development Office will staff the event. I’m grateful to Governor Markell, Secretary McMahon, and Director Levin, who have stepped up to make sure Delawareans looking for work will still be able to meet with the more than 50 employers confirmed to attend.”

Federal law prohibits Senate staff from doing work during a shutdown that doesn’t relate to the Senator’s core legislative responsibilities, making Senator Coons’ excepted staff unable to assist job seekers at the job fair. Excepted and non-excepted staff would also be prevented from volunteering. Instead, employees from the Department of Labor and Delaware Economic Development Office will fill in to make sure Delawareans in attendance get the help they need.

“This is just another example of what makes Delaware such a special place,” Senator Coons said. “We’re a team. The support shown by our friends in state government and the dozens of individuals and organizations that have called our office offering to volunteer has been amazing.”

A federal government shutdown would also prohibit the 16 federal agencies planning to send recruiters to the fair from participating. In that event, 16 additional private-sector employers are lined up to take their place.

The job fair, which now has more than 50 confirmed employers scheduled to participate, will be held Monday, April 11th, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Job seekers need not pre-register in order to attend, but are encouraged to bring their resumes.

Senator Coons cosponsors bill to fund troops during a shutdown

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in cosponsoring S. 724, a bill to ensure that members of the military continue to receive their paychecks during a possible government shutdown.

As negotiations over a budget for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 continue, Senator Coons wants to ensure that, should a shutdown occur, our men and women in uniform will not have to go without pay.  This bill would pay for members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the National Guard using un-appropriated funds from the Treasury during a shutdown period. 

“We must meet our responsibilities to those who put their lives at risk for this country,” Senator Coons said.  “This bill would protect the pay of the men and women who are so bravely defending our nation overseas and keeping our homeland secure.  I visited with troops from Delaware during my recent trip to Afghanistan.”

They are doing heroic work and the last thing that they and their families should have to worry about is whether they can pay their bills because of a shutdown.

S. 724 was introduced by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Robert P. Casey, Jr., (D-PA) on April 5 and now includes over fifty cosponsors from both parties.  Senator Coons is committed to working across the aisle to stand up for our troops and do what it takes to ensure they have the pay, benefits, and resources they deserve.

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Statement from Senator Coons on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today released the following statement on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire.

 “I am deeply concerned about the violence perpetrated in Cote d’Ivoire, which has led to the deaths of hundreds and relocation of tens of thousands of people.  Four months after the African Union and United Nations certified the free and fair elections in Cote d’Ivoire and recognized the victory of Alassane Ouattara as President, it is time for Laurent Gbagbo to cede power and direct the military to lay down its arms.  I support the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission and welcome President Ouattara’s pledge to ensure accountability for those who have targeted innocent civilians, who have suffered greatly as a result of the violence directed by Gbagbo. At this critical juncture, I strongly urge all parties to choose a path toward reconciliation and reunification that will lead to a more secure and stable future for the Ivoiran people.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is chair of the Subcommittee on African Affairs.

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