Delaware’s Congressional Delegation Trumpets Grant Award to Help Children Access Healthy Food Year-Round

WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) congratulated the Delaware Department of Education on a grant award to improve nutrition assistance to low-income children in Delaware during summer months.  The Delaware Department of Education will use the $404,216 to implement the Home Delivery demonstration project through the Food Bank of Delaware’ s Newark and Milford branches.

The Home Delivery demonstration project will provide funding to develop ways to deliver summer meals to eligible children in rural areas at a sustainable cost. The meals will include a variety of nutritious foods including low-fat milk, locally grown fruits and vegetables and fresh or frozen entrees that are easy to prepare. The project is one of two grant-funded programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will be used to test innovative alternatives to enable children from low-income households to access healthy food during the summer. The project will also boost participation in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides meals to children from low-income households during summer months.

“A complete, nutritious diet is critical for Delaware’s children to be able to grow into healthy adults,” said the Delaware Delegation. “Whether it’s December or July, our kids need regular access to wholesome food and meals so they can lead healthy lives and learn to the best of their ability. This grant from the USDA will help increase access to healthy food and we will continue to support similar programs that ensure that Delaware’s children, regardless of where they live, have access to nutritious and healthy meals throughout the year.”

Begun as a pilot program in 1968, today’s Summer Food Service Program provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months and long vacation periods for schools on year-round schedules. Program sponsors, which include schools, government agencies, residential and non-residential camps and faith-based organizations, served nearly 134 million meals at eligible sites in 2010.

Improving child nutrition is also a focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that was signed by President Obama on December 13, 2010. This legislation reauthorizes USDA’S child nutrition programs, including the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 32 million children each day. It will allow USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, the chance to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. To learn more, visit www.LetsMove.gov. 

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the child nutrition programs, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year.  These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger.  Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs. 

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Senator Coons trumpets STEM education at Race to the Top anniversary celebration

WILMINGTON, Del. – Joining Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Governor Jack Markell and Congressman John Carney at Howard High School in Wilmington Monday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) talked about the growing importance of science, technology and math education to making the United States more competitive over the long-term.

“Our nation needs more high schools that emphasize STEM education like Howard does,” Senator Coons said. “The 21st century economy is taking root in science and technology, and by equipping our young people with the skills to succeed in those areas before they get to college, we’ll make our economy stronger and our nation more competitive.”

Monday’s event celebrated the one-year anniversary of the first awards under the successful Race to the Top program, which resulted in Delaware schools winning $100 million to improve student performance throughout the state.

Earlier this month Senator Coons cosponsored a bill that would establish an Early Learning Challenge Fund to improve access to high-quality learning and development opportunities for children younger than five years old. Modeled after Race to the Top, the program would make funds available on a competitive basis to states that have demonstrated the greatest progress in establishing systems of high-quality early learning.

Senator Coons is also teaming up with other moderate Democratic Senators on a set of education reform principles designed to improve the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and better educate the next generation of American innovators. Those principles include:

• Accountability Structure: Reward growth and progress. The No Child Left Behind Act treated all schools that failed to make adequate yearly progress the same and did not tailor interventions to meet the specific needs of schools. The old accountability system fails to recognize growth and constantly labels failure. A new accountability structure needs to provide more flexibility for schools to determine the best way to meet the needs of their students, instead of a one-size-fits all approach from Washington.
• School Turnaround: Support bold, aggressive action to improve the prospects for graduation for students in schools that persistently fail to provide a quality education. Under current law, states and districts frequently choose the least intensive option for reform.
• Teachers and Leaders: Dramatically improve our system for recruiting, training, supporting, retaining and paying teachers and leaders. Competitive funds to create and replicate effective teacher and leader preparation programs are an essential element. Require better teacher and leader evaluation systems that include examination of student learning gains and provide extra compensation for those who take on additional responsibilities.
• Foster Innovation: Create opportunities for states, districts and schools that want to push beyond the status quo through innovative and promising new approaches.
• Equity in Resources (Close the Title I Comparability Loophole):  Closing the loophole to require school districts to report actual expenditures at the school-level, including those devoted to salaries for teachers, when applying for Title I funding. Title I, the largest program in ESEA, provides grants to districts with children living in concentrated poverty. Closing this loophole will result in more equitable funding between schools.

For more about Senator Coons’ work on those principles, click here: http://bit.ly/fipSN7

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Senator Coons urges President Obama to take a more comprehensive approach to deficit reduction

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined a bipartisan group of 63 Senators in a letter to President Obama Friday urging him to lead a more comprehensive approach to reducing the deficit by looking not only at spending cuts, but changes to entitlement programs and tax reform.

“By approaching these negotiations comprehensively, with a strong signal of support from you, we believe that we can achieve consensus on these important fiscal issues,” the Senators wrote. “This would send a powerful message to Americans thatWashington can work together to tackle this critical issue.”

The full letter is pasted below and can be downloaded as a PDF here: http://1.usa.gov/dNyzdp

March 15, 2011 

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

As the Administration continues to work with Congressional leadership regarding our current budget situation, we write to inform you that we believe comprehensive deficit reduction measures are imperative and to ask you to support a broad approach to solving the problem.

As you know, a bipartisan group of Senators has been working to craft a comprehensive deficit reduction package based upon the recommendations of the Fiscal Commission.  While we may not agree with every aspect of the Commission’s recommendations, we believe that its work represents an important foundation to achieve meaningful progress on our debt.  The Commission’s work also underscored the scope and breadth of our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges.  

Beyond FY2011 funding decisions, we urge you to engage in a broaderdiscussion about a comprehensive deficit reduction package.  Specifically, we hope that the discussion will include discretionary spending cuts, entitlement changes and tax reform.

By approaching these negotiations comprehensively, with a strong signal of support from you, we believe that we can achieve consensus on these important fiscal issues.  This would send a powerful message to Americans that Washington can work together to tacklethis critical issue.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

—-

The letter was signed by the following Senators:

Democrats:

Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Kerry (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), RonWyden (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Mark Begich (D-AK), Thomas Carper (D-DE), Mark Udall (D- CO), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Christopher Coons(D-DE), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Bill Nelson (D-FL), JoeManchin (D-WV), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) , Kent Conrad (D-ND) , Mark Warner (D-VA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), JeffBingaman (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

Republicans:

Mike Johanns (R-DE), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), John Barrasso (R-WY), Roy Blunt (MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Scott Brown (R-MA), Richard Burr (R -NC), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Dan Coats (R-IN), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Bob Corker (R-TN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rob Portman (R-OH),  James Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Richard Shelby (R-AL), John Thune (R-SD) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

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Senator Coons statement on the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Libya

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) on Friday issued the following statement on the ongoing situation in Libya.

“I strongly condemn the unconscionable use of violence by Qadaffi against the Libyan people, and support the passage of the United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing a no-fly zone and additional measures to protect civilians. I am deeply concerned about the continuing threat of Qadaffi massacring rebel forces and innocent civilians, and support U.S. military engagement that is part of a strong multilateral commitment. 

“Given the significant ongoing demands on the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq, this is an appropriate time for our allies to step up and take the lead on enforcing the United Nations resolution. I agree with President Obama that we cannot stand idly by as Qadaffi continues on this path of brutal oppression. Now is the time for the world to demonstrate leadership and – working in a strong coalition – to match our words with action.”

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

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Senator Coons joins colleagues in introducing repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today reiterated his call for a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, cosponsoring a bill introduced today by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and 17 other Democratic Senators. The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal the provision in the Defense of Marriage Act that forces the federal government to recognize only marriages between a man and a woman and instruct that the federal government shall no longer discriminate against same-sex couples.

“There are thousands of same-sex couples legally married in several states but whose marriages have been deemed invalid or unworthy by the federal government,” Senator Coons said.  “The Respect for Marriage Act not only reverses this discriminatory provision but ensures LGBT families will be afforded the same federal rights as every other American. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.”  

The Respect for Marriage Act does not legalize same-sex marriage beyond the states in which it is already legal. It respects the right of states to set their own marriage laws but ends federal discrimination against those same-sex couples legally married in those states in which it is permitted.

“There are too many young people growing up in Delaware and throughout the United States who think the world is against them because they are gay,” Senator Coons said. “Repealing DOMA is one way we can tell a whole generation of young Americans that they should not give up and that their country respects them enough to treat them as equal to every other American.”

“In the Declaration of Independence,” Senator Coons added, “our founders set down the principle that governments are established to protect our rights and liberties, foremost our equality under law.  The Respect for Marriage Act does just that. It ensures that our government equally safeguards the rights of all Americans and of all the states.” 

The Respect for Marriage act is also cosponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

Senator Coons, a longtime advocate for equal rights for the LGBT community, will be the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign Philadelphia Region annual dinner on Friday, March 19. 

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Senator Coons’ floor statement on the Small Business Innovation Research program reauthorization

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) spoke on the floor on Tuesday about the importance of small businesses to the American economy and urged his colleagues to support S. 493, which would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology Transfer program.

– As Delivered –

Thank you, Mr. President.  I rise this afternoon to speak in support of the incredibly important legislation that’s on the floor, the Small Business Innovation Research program reauthorization, a bill, S. 493, which also reauthorizes the Small Business Technology Transfer program.  I want to commend Senator Landrieu, the Chair of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Committee, and her Ranking Minority Member, Senator Snowe of Maine, for their leadership in moving this to the floor, and getting this considered is vital to making progress on this bipartisan bill. 

This is the third, Mr. President, in a series of bipartisan bills we have taken up.  The first two, the FAA reauthorization and the patent reform bill, have passed, and it is my real hope that all of us in this chamber will seriously consider supporting S. 493. 

The thirty million small businesses in America are incubators of creativity and job creation.  They drive our innovation sector and make us more competitive globally. In addition to employing over half our private sector workforce, small businesses are the backbones of our American communities and can be a source of economic advancement for millions of Americans in every state. 

The Small Business Innovation Research program, or “SBIR,” sets aside a small part of the research and development budget from a number of federal agencies to be used as grants for small businesses, and the Small Business Technology Transfer program, or “STTR,” helps scientists and innovators at research institutions take their discoveries and commercialize them through small business start-ups.  Since their creation in 1982 and 1992, respectively, SBIR and STTR have invested more than $28 billion in helping American small businesses turn into big businesses through innovation and commercialization of cutting-edge products. 

The classic example, which a number of our colleagues, including Senator Landrieu, have highlighted in the conversation so far, is Qualcomm of San Diego, which began as a small business of just thirty-five employees and has now, in fact, grown to a company of 17,000.  It pays more in taxes every year than the whole budget of the SBA.  We can’t lose sight that every large company in America at one point began as a small business. 

The SBIR and STTR programs were created through bipartisanship and should maintain wide support.  In fact, SBIR was signed into law by former President Ronald Reagan.  They more than pay for themselves through the jobs and economic growth they create and the taxes paid by these companies as they grow. 

For too long, the Senate has kicked the can down the road by passing temporary extensions month after month, year after year, for these two vital programs.  This week, at long last, we have the chance to pass real long-term reauthorization.  It’s a shame, I feel, we had to vote for cloture even just to begin debating this bill, which has wide bipartisan support.  Ideology should not trump practical solutions that can put more Americans back to work and get our economy moving again.  These two programs are proven vehicles for growth in all our states, including my home state of Delaware. 

In Delaware, where we have a strong and growing high-tech sector, small businesses have been benefiting from these two programs and, with your forbearance, Mr. President, I will for a moment just mention three. 

One Delaware company that received a critical SBIR grant was Elcriton.  It started with two employees who invented and patented a process to take bacteria that turn algae into butanol for fuel.  Think about literally using pond scum for fuel for cars and trucks.  It is superior to ethanol in many respects, because it is compatible with the current petroleum infrastructure.  The SBIR grant enabled this company to expand significantly, to grow their production, and to scale up not just the research and development but their early stage manufacturing. 

Another company, Compact Membrane Systems of Newport, Delaware, is putting a million dollar SBIR grant to work developing a hollow fiber filter that’s used to filter hydraulic fluid from water.  This extends the life of machinery like wind turbines that use hydraulic fluid or filter oil.  They started with three employees and now have twenty-four.  Five of those hires were directly made possible through the SBIR grant. 

Last, in Newark, Delaware, ANP Technologies is building biological agent detection systems for our Department of Defense.  The kit they are developing is rapid, lightweight, and lifesaving for our troops and first-responders.  This recipient of an SPIR grant is just another great example of cutting-edge technology by a small business that will have positive impacts for our first responders, our armed forces, and my home community of Newark, Delaware. 

Since 1983, nearly 400 Delaware businesses have received $400 million in SBIR grants.  I know that every one of my colleagues here in the Senate has a similar positive story from his or her state.  Each one of these businesses I just spoke about in Delaware could be the next Qualcomm.  Any one of the small businesses in our states that receive grants through SBIR and support through STTR could generate a revolution in high-tech that spurs the creation of thousands of jobs. 

In my view, Mr. President, we cannot afford to let this critical job-creating program expire.  According to one report, small businesses backed by SBIR grants have been responsible for almost a quarter of our nation’s most important innovations over the past decade, and they account for almost forty percent of our nation’s patents.  The applications range from the military to medicine, from education to emergency services. 

Congress must have a smart approach to budget reform that balances budget cuts with strategic long-term investments that create growth and job-creation for our communities, a great example of exactly what it is that the SBIR and STTR programs do. 

I hope all of our colleagues will join in supporting Senator Landrieu of Louisiana in supporting this vital bill and the great work she and the Committee have done to advance it to this date. 

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Senator Coons highlights Small Business Innovation Research Program at Chamber event in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. – Participating in a panel discussion hosted by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce in Wilmington on Monday morning, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) highlighted the Small Business Innovation Research Program being considered by the Senate this week as another important part of the strategy for restoring our economy and making America more competitive.

“Our nation’s 30 million small businesses are incubators of creativity and job creation,” Senator Coons said. “They drive innovation and make America more competitive. Small businesses are essential to the economic growth of our nation, employing more than half of the private sector workforce.”

The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs have been reauthorized eight times since being established by President Reagan in 1982. Set to expire in May 2011, Senator Coons supports the long-term reauthorization of those programs to help small businesses succeed by providing continuity in encouraging these high-technology firms to grow and expand.

“SBIR and SBTT have been successful programs and ought to be part of our strategy for creating jobs and promoting innovation over the long-term,” Senator Coons said. “Creating jobs has been my top priority since coming to the Senate. Renewing these two programs will have an immediate and direct impact on American innovation and creating jobs in Delaware.”

Since 1983, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program has made 354 investments in Delaware businesses, totaling $101 million.

This week the Senate is expected to vote on S. 493, which would reauthorize SBIR/STTR for eight years. The bill is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Small Business Association, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, and the National Venture Capital Association.

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Delaware’s Congressional Delegation Announces $1.7 Million in Federal SAFER Funding for Wilmington Fire Department

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, as well as Representative John Carney (all D-Del.), today announced $1,723,327 in federal funding to strengthen the number of trained firefighters in Wilmington’s neighborhoods. The funding was made possible through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER).

“With Delaware’s fire companies struggling with serious budget challenges, our firefighters need this help now more than ever. The important work that these brave men and women do to keep us safe must continue, regardless of the state of our economy. As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I’m committed to ensuring fire companies in Delaware and across the country have a properly trained and functional staff and stay in compliance with national regulations. This grant helps the Wilmington Fire Department maintain the mandatory number of personnel and helps train more firefighters to perform at their very best during times of crisis.”

“Especially in these difficult economic times, it’s important that we continue to ensure the safety of our citizens and that our first-response agencies with the personnel and equipment they need,” Senator Coons said. “During my time as New Castle County Executive, I fully supported our first responders and have continued to do so in the Senate. This grant to the Wilmington Fire Department will not only help keep residents safe, but will help provide our brave firefighters with resources they need to stay safe on the job.”

“Ensuring that local fire departments are prepared to quickly and efficiently respond to emergencies is critical to the safety of citizens in communities across the country,” said Congressman Carney. “Using this grant, the Wilmington Fire Department will be able to train additional firefighters, enhance their safety standards and better serve the people of Delaware.”

Visit FEMA’s website for more information: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/content/html/safer/default.aspx

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Senators Wicker and Coons to co-chair Senate Working Group on Malaria

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today announced that they will co-chair the bipartisan Senate Working Group on Malaria to raise Congressional awareness of U.S. efforts to stem the tide of malaria across the globe.    

“Malaria remains a deadly but preventable disease, and the Malaria Working Group is helping to keep a focus on this important issue,” said Senator Wicker.  “The prevalence of malaria has decreased, but there is still much left to do.  Work to advance global health is not only our moral responsibility, it is also a powerful tool for international security and diplomacy.”  

“During my time studying and working in Africa, I witnessed first-hand the havoc that malaria has on villages, especially on women, children, and those most in need and susceptible.” Senator Coons said. “Three million people die yearly from this preventable disease. The best way to improve life expectancy and engage in effective prevention efforts is to empower communities and governments with the tools and resources they need to save the lives of their people.  This will be one goal of the Senate Malaria Working Group, which I am honored to co-chair along with Senator Wicker.” 

Malaria, an infectious blood disease spread by mosquitoes, is most prevalent in the developing world, with 90 percent of deaths occurring in Africa.  The majority of those killed are pregnant women and children under five years old.    
 
Senator Wicker, an original co-chair of the Working Group on Malaria, serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senator Coons is the chair of Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs.  

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Delawareans risk leaving $4 million in IRS refund checks unclaimed

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today encouraged Delawareans who haven’t yet filed their 2007 tax returns to do so before the April 18, 2011 deadline or risk leaving up to a combined $4 million in refunds unclaimed. According to the IRS, there are 4,000 Delawareans who could still receive a refund if they get their 2007 return filed by the coming deadline. The median refund received by Delaware taxpayers in 2007 was $658.

“In these difficult economic times, every penny can make a difference,” Senator Coons said. “Delawareans who haven’t yet filed their 2007 tax returns are leaving as much as $4 million uncollected and un-invested in our local economy. The time for claiming these refunds is running out, so I hope Delawareans will take advantage get their returns in immediately.”

Nationally, more than 1.1 million people have yet to file a federal income tax return for 2007, with potential refunds adding up to more than $1.1 billion. The window for filing returns to claim those refunds closes on April 18, 2011.

There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund.

Tax forms and instructions are available on the “Forms and Publications” page of IRS.gov or by calling toll-free 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2007, 2008 or 2009 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer.

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