Senator Coons statement on the passing of Rosalynn Carter

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement today on the passing of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter:

“Rosalynn Carter broke new ground as first lady during a time of great societal change and political upheaval. She combined Eleanor Roosevelt’s passion for justice with Mamie Eisenhower’s mastery of social graces. Her profound faith, fierce work ethic and sharp political sense made her an invaluable lifelong partner for President Carter, and their marriage of 77 years was the longest of any First Couple in our history.

“She was a strong and forceful partner in everything her husband did, from business to politics to their incredibly successful decades of service after his presidency. Rosalynn was an integral part of everything President Carter achieved, and she made a lasting difference for our nation.

“Annie and I extend our deepest sympathies to President Carter; their children, Jack, James III, Donnel, and Amy; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and the other members of the Carter family during this difficult time.”

Senator Coons, colleagues introduce legislation to protect domestic abuse survivors from gun violence

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced legislation safeguarding domestic abuse survivors from gun violence alongside his colleagues Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), as well as Congressman Jim Himes (D-Conn.).

“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a crucial step forward in protecting Americans at risk of domestic abuse from gun violence, but we still need to close crucial loopholes that leave domestic violence victims exposed in times of extreme danger,” said Senator Coons. “Passing this bill and restricting those under temporary restraining orders from purchasing firearms will save lives and prevent countless others from having to live in fear.”

The bill, titled the Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, is named for two women who were both shot and killed by their abusive, estranged partners even after securing emergency restraining orders: Lori Jackson of Oxford, Connecticut and Nicolette Elias of Portland, Oregon.

The legislation would expand on a provision in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that denies firearm sales to dating partners with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions – not just abusers who had been married to, lived with, or had children with their victim.

Current federal law protects domestic violence survivors from gun violence by preventing their abusers from purchasing or possessing a firearm, but only once the court has issued a final restraining order. This leaves survivors unprotected exactly when they are in the most danger – when a domestic abuser first learns his or her victim has left and only an emergency restraining order is in place. Further, the current definition of “intimate partner” used to prohibit respondents to restraining orders from purchasing or possessing a firearm only includes spouses, former spouses, people with a child in common, and cohabitants. However, there are many survivors of dating violence who were never married, do not live with their abuser, and have no children.

The Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act would restrict those under emergency restraining orders from purchasing or possessing a firearm, and would extend protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by their dating partners.

The bill would also establish a new grant program to help state and local governments implement policies that keep firearms out of the hands of domestic violence perpetrators while they are subject to a temporary or emergency restraining order. These policies include: requiring a domestic violence abuser to surrender or sell any firearm or ammunition in their possession; revoking their permit or license to purchase, possess, or carry a firearm or ammunition while the restraining order is in effect; and requiring that a background check to be performed before any firearm or ammunition is returned to the person subject to the restraining order.

Lori Jackson was a 32-year-old mother of two who fled her home with her two children and filed for a restraining order to protect her family from her estranged husband. She moved in with her mother in Oxford, Connecticut, and the court granted her a temporary protective order while she waited for a hearing to obtain a permanent restraining order. The day before the hearing was scheduled, Lori’s husband shot and killed her and injured her mother, Merry Jackson, using a gun he legally possessed because a permanent protective order was not yet in place.

Nicolette Elias was a 46-year-old Portland, Oregon, mother of two young daughters who for years sought and secured restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband. Despite all her attempts to protect herself and her daughters from a man who frequently threatened them and had access to firearms, in 2014, Nicolette was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he had refused to relinquish. He then forced their daughters out of the home, past their mother’s body, and kidnapped them, taking them to his own home. There, later that day, he took his own life, shooting himself in the chest in front of the police.

The bill is also cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

The bill is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, Giffords, March for Our Lives, Sandy Hook Promise, Newtown Action Alliance, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and Jewish Women International.

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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Senator Coons statement on Senate passage of continuing resolution

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate voted to continue existing funding levels for the federal government through the new year: 

“This continuing resolution averts a catastrophic government shutdown and ensures our government will continue to fulfill its most basic responsibilities into January, for which I am thankful. However, the government cannot continue to operate under continuing resolution after continuing resolution. This bill’s unnecessary two-tier approach, which will see roughly 20 percent of government funding levels – including key priorities such as food, housing, and veterans’ programs – expire two weeks before the rest of the government, overly complicates the funding process. I urge the House to join the Senate and move forward in a bipartisan manner to pass full-year government spending bills.

“I also strongly believe that this continuing resolution should have included President Biden’s supplemental funding request, which would provide much-needed resources to Israel as it fights Hamas terrorists; military and economic aid to Ukraine as it defends itself against a brutal Russian war of attrition; humanitarian relief to civilians in Gaza, Ukraine, and beyond; a record level of funding to secure our Southwestern border; and measures to support the security of our Indo-Pacific allies.

“We must make the supplemental request our main priority when Congress returns later this month. I look forward to working with my colleagues to safeguard American interests, support our allies, and fund our government in a responsible manner.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS).

Senators Coons, Murkowski introduce legislation to improve access to multidisciplinary care for ALS

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Co-Chair of the Senate ALS Caucus, and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced legislation this week to improve access to quality, interdisciplinary care for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The ALS Better Care Act would establish a supplemental, facility-based payment in Medicare for ALS-related services and directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study ALS-related care and develop a baseline for those payments.

ALS is a debilitating and fatal disease that affects 1 in 300 people – approximately 30,000 Americans. Specialized, multidisciplinary ALS care that addresses the complex needs that come with an ALS diagnosis – including occupational, respiratory, and physical therapists; mental health providers; neurologists; social workers; and nurses – has been shown to extend survival and improve patients’ quality of life. Extending Medicare coverage for the critical healthcare services provided at multidisciplinary clinics will help improve access to coordinated and high-quality care.

“Improving access to multidisciplinary treatments for a disease that has caused so much anguish for countless Americans and their families is a priority for me as Co-Chair of the Senate ALS Caucus,” said Senator Coons. “My hope is that by supporting quality, collaborative care that ALS patients need, we improve the quality of life for patients and their families.”

“ALS is a ruthless disease that impacts individuals as well as their families, friends, and communities. By improving access to comprehensive care for people living with ALS, we can make a difference in the fight,” said Senator Murkowski. “My friend and colleague Senator Chris Coons and I have worked together on several successful ALS efforts, and I’m proud to join him in leading the ALS Better Care Act. This bill will invest in research, improve the quality of care, and combat ALS while also improving the lives of those living with the disease.”

“It is important that we ensure access to multidisciplinary clinics because they can be a valuable component of quality health care for individuals living with ALS,” said Andrea Goodman, CEO of I AM ALS. “Unfortunately, too many people living with ALS lack access; some live hundreds of miles away from the nearest clinic. Our hope is that with stronger reimbursement through the ALS Better Care Act, we can strengthen and encourage the expansion of more clinics, thereby improving equitable access to quality care. We truly appreciate the consistent and valiant leadership of Senators Coons and Murkowski on behalf of the ALS community.”

“The ALS Better Care Act meets an urgent need for ALS care teams and people living with this devastating disease,” said Laura Freveletti, CEO of the Les Turner ALS Foundation. “ALS is a complex and demanding disease, but evidence has shown that multidisciplinary ALS care makes it possible for people with ALS to live longer and more fulfilling lives. This critical legislation will support doctors and clinics that provide innovative, high-quality ALS care, and it will help bring that care to people and families who desperately need it.”

“Multidisciplinary care is one of the few evidence-based practices that extends and improves the lives of people living with ALS,” said Calaneet Balas, CEO of the ALS Association. “More Americans living with ALS should be able to access this highest standard of care through our certified network of multidisciplinary ALS clinics across the country. We thank Senators Coons and Murkowski for their leadership on the ALS Better Care Act to address the care needs of people living with ALS, their loved ones, and their healthcare team.” 

The ALS Better Care Act would:

• Ensure multidisciplinary clinics can continue to provide the quality and collaborative care ALS patients need;
• Create a supplemental, facility-based payment to qualified facilities, while requiring those skilled facilities to provide care following a multidisciplinary standard established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
• Provide a starting quarterly $800 payment per patient to reimburse qualified ALS providers or clinics, starting January 1, 2025; and 
• Direct the GAO to conduct a study on ALS-related services ordinarily provided and the cost of those services. As a result, the GAO will be able to finetune the appropriate supplemental payment amount beginning in coverage year 2026.

The bill is supported by I AM ALS, the ALS Association, the ALS Hope Foundation, the Les Turner ALS Foundation, the American Academy of Neurology, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 

This bipartisan bill is led in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).

The full bill text is available here.

Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester push to renew expired funding for child care

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) joined a bicameral group of their colleagues in urging congressional leadership to renew expired funding for child care in any supplemental funding package. Funding the lawmakers passed in the American Rescue Plan Act that allowed millions of parents to afford child care and keep their jobs during the pandemic expired in September, but the child care crisis continues. Without this funding, many child care providers are struggling to continue to operate and serve families. The lawmakers’ letter to leadership comes after President Biden’s supplemental funding request to Congress included $16 billion to address the child care crisis, which many members called for in August. 

“We write today to urge you to include robust funding for child care in any supplemental funding package considered by the Appropriations Committee. Child care is unaffordable and hard to find for working families, and child care providers across the country are struggling to stay afloat,” wrote the lawmakers.

“The child care workforce has been one of the slowest sectors to recover from the pandemic, and wages for this critical workforce remain unacceptably low, further fueling the shortage of available child care options for families,” the members continued. “Families and child care providers are feeling increasingly squeezed following the expiration of COVID-19 relief funding for child care, as child care providers scramble to fill the gap in resources previously filled by federal funds.”

The lawmakers wrote, “It is essential that as supplemental funding to meet emergency needs is considered, Congress take action to address the child care crisis. We have an urgent need to further stabilize an industry that has been long underfunded, and Congress must provide robust funding for this sector through a supplemental package.”

In addition to Carper and Coons, the Senate letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

In addition to Blunt Rochester, the House letter was signed by Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Colin Allred (D-Texas), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Donald Beyer (D-Va.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), André Carson (D-Ind.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), Jose Luis Correa (D-Calif.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Donald Davis (D-N.C.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), James Himes (D-Conn.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-Ga.) Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), William Keating (D-Mass.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Daniel Kildee (D-Mich.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Patrick Ryan (D-N.Y.), Gregoria Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-M.P.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Norma Torres (D-Calif.), Ritchie Torres (D-Calif.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), David Trone (D-Md.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.).

The letter is endorsed by All Our Kin; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy; Caring Across Generations; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Child Care for Every Family Network; Children’s Institute; Community Change Action; Early Care & Education Consortium (ECEC); Family Values @ Work; First Focus Campaign for Children; House Democratic Women’s Caucus; Mom Congress; Moms First; MomsRising; National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC); National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); National Education Association (NEA); National Women’s Law Center (NWLC); Oxfam America; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Small Business Majority; YMCA USA; and ZERO TO THREE.

A copy of the Senate letter is available here. A copy of the House letter is available here. 

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Senators Coons and Murkowski, Representatives Peters and Salazar introduce landmark bipartisan climate resilience legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and María Salazar (R-Fla.) introduced the National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act today to streamline the federal response to climate hazards that threaten human health and well-being, critical infrastructure, and natural environments.

Increasingly severe weather events are a stark reminder that frontline communities like Delaware, the nation’s lowest-lying state, are at increasing risk from climate change. Last year, total natural disaster damages in the United States reached $165 billion, and they are increasing every year. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, each dollar invested in resilience saves roughly $6 when disaster strikes. Vulnerable populations also face increasing harm from slow-onset climate hazards like sea level rise and permafrost thaw, which are often overlooked in comparison to punctuated disaster events but can also have a significant impact on human health as well as property and critical infrastructure.

“A coordinated government strategy for resilience is critical to help vulnerable communities that face increasing risk from hurricanes, floods, winter storms, and other weather events,” said Senator Coons, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus. “Having a Chief Resilience Officer in the White House, advised by a non-federal Partners Council, will improve accountability and fiscal responsibility in disaster preparedness, following the model of nearly a dozen states, including Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. Resilience is critical not only for Delaware, but for Americans in frontline communities across the nation.”

“Alaskan communities are facing an increasing number of damaging weather events bringing flooding, coastal erosion, severe winter storms, permafrost melt, and wildfires. Just this past year, communities across our state were impacted by several natural disasters that caused great damage to our infrastructure and put Alaskans’ lives at risk,” said Senator Murkowski. “I’m glad to be working once again with my colleague Senator Coons on bipartisan legislation to appoint a Chief Resilience Officer to develop and implement a unified National Adaptation and Resilience Strategy, with the input of partners across sectors and localities. A single clear and coordinated federal approach to disaster preparedness and climate resilience is the right thing to do for communities in Alaska and across the country.”

“As we work to aggressively combat the climate crisis, we must also prepare our communities for the unavoidable devastation of climate change. In San Diego, this includes more frequent and intense wildfires, drought, heat waves, and rising sea levels that endanger the health, safety, and livelihoods of people in my district,” said Congressman Peters. “A robust national strategy led by a Chief Resilience Officer, instead of a patchwork of disparate efforts, will be essential for an effective response to the increasingly dangerous climate hazards our communities face.”

“Miami communities are at risk and are ground-zero for rising waters,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “We must come together to protect Florida families and improve disaster planning. I’m proud to lead the National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act to ensure we build stronger infrastructure and keep our communities safe.”

The National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security Act would:

• Set a National Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and an Implementation Plan with federal, state, local, private sector, and nonprofit partners.
• Establish a Chief Resilience Officer in the White House to implement the plan.
• Create interagency working groups to streamline efforts and ensure accountability.
• Create a federal information hub to streamline resilience resources to communities.

Additional cosponsors include Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), as well as Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and John Curtis (R-Utah).

The bill is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, Taxpayers for Common Sense, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Team Rubicon, Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Center for Climate & Security at The Council on Strategic Risks, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, SmarterSafer Coalition, American Flood Coalition Action, American Society of Adaptation Professionals, and Resilience 21 Coalition.

A full list of quotes of support for NCARS is available here. A one-pager on NCARS is available here. The full NCARS bill text is available here.

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Senator Coons statement on U.S. digital trade priorities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement in response to the decision by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to rescind support for longstanding U.S. negotiating objectives on digital trade: 

“Digital trade rules ensuring the free flow of information and protecting proprietary technology serve to strengthen the global competitiveness of the U.S. economy and provide valuable guarantees for U.S. businesses in every industry. That’s why I’m so disappointed to see USTR abandoning those priorities in our trade negotiations, despite years of broad bipartisan support and their inclusion in trade agreements negotiated by presidents of both parties. Important domestic debates on regulating technology should not hold us back from continuing to work with our allies to develop guardrails for the global digital economy that reflect our shared values. If we are not at the negotiating table, we are giving China a free pass to set the rules of the road for the future of the global economy.”

Senator Coons is Chair of the Senate Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property.

Senator Coons, Congressman McCaul write letter to DRC President Tshisekedi calling on him to ensure free and fair elections next month

WASHINGTON — Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul (R-Texas) wrote a letter today to Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressing support for free, fair, and transparent general elections in December and noting the lack of transparency surrounding the electoral process so far, including with respect to the country’s central electoral body, the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI).

“As you know, holding credible, inclusive, and transparent elections within the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s constitutionally determined deadlines is fundamental to the development of democracy, peace, and prosperity in your country. A poorly administered election would undermine not only these goals, but would jeopardize efforts to strengthen our bilateral relationship, including cooperation on regional security, environmental protection, and U.S.-DRC trade and investment,” the lawmakers wrote.

They continued, “As the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s central electoral body, it is critical that the CENI operates impartially and transparently to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. We are concerned that the CENI has not provided adequate transparency regarding the voter register, and we join the U.S. Department of State in calling on the CENI to publish voter registration lists as soon as possible.”

In the runup to December’s election, reports of physical attacks on political figures, harassment of political party activists, and arbitrary detentions of civil society members have risen. Additionally, concerns over the lack of transparency of CENI’s spending and failure to commit to publishing preliminary and final election results in a timely fashion have raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process.

These concerns come five years after the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s last general election in 2018, when the results announced by CENI did not match projections made by local election observers, and local civil society groups made accusations of widespread irregularities and fraud. 

You can read the full letter here.

Senators Coons, Scott, and colleagues introduce resolution designating November as National College Application Month

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced a resolution in the Senate designating November as National College Application Month. The bipartisan resolution encourages students to focus on their options for pursuing higher education and commends the parents, educators, and mentors who guide them through the process.

The bipartisan resolution notes that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate of recent high school graduates not enrolled in college was 18.3 percent in 2022, nearly five times higher than the overall unemployment rate of the United States.

“College is an incredible opportunity to expand your worldview, challenge yourself, and invest in your future. If you are a high school student or someone thinking about returning to school, now is the time to apply and to learn more about affordable higher education options,” said Senator Coons. “I’m excited to work with my colleagues to recognize everyone undertaking the college application process this month and look forward to celebrating Delaware students’ plans come spring.”

“Education is the closest thing to magic in America, and continuing one’s education at the college level creates a future of limitless possibilities for students of all backgrounds,” said Senator Scott. “I’m proud to continue encouraging families, educators, and mentors to help the next generation pursue educational excellence.”

In the Senate, the resolution is also cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

“We appreciate the leadership of U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Tim Scott and the U.S. Senate in recognizing the importance of every student having the opportunity to fulfill their potential and graduate from high school ready for education and workplace success. It’s not enough to tell students that college is worth it – we need to help more students find a path to and through college,” said Janet Godwin, CEO of ACT. “Students from low-income families and those who are the first in their families to attend college are often faced with many obstacles to completing an application, from confusion about how to apply to financial concerns. ACT’s American College Application Campaign works each year to support all high school seniors, especially those who are systemically underserved, in applying to at least one college.”

Read the “November as National College Application Month” resolution here.

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Senator Coons releases draft of AGOA reauthorization act to deepen U.S.-Africa economic relationship

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released a discussion draft of the AGOA Renewal Act of 2023 that would extend and enhance the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the cornerstone of the United States’ economic relationship with sub-Saharan Africa.

“For over 20 years, AGOA has created valuable opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers while supporting sustainable economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Senator Coons. “My AGOA Renewal Act would extend this program, incentivizing investments that will create jobs, bolster economic development, and strengthen our standing in the region. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this done.”

The AGOA Renewal Act would extend AGOA until 2041. This long-term extension would provide businesses with the predictability needed to invest in sub-Saharan Africa at a time when many firms are looking to diversify their supply chains and reduce dependence on China. Increased investment by U.S. businesses in sub-Saharan Africa supports regional economic growth and development and strengthens the United States’ position on the continent.

The bill would also improve AGOA by strengthening its positive impact on economic growth and development and streamlining the program’s administration. Notably, the bill would integrate AGOA with the nascent African Continental Free Trade Agreement, helping support the development of intra-African supply chains. More details about the bill are available in this one-pager.

AGOA was established by Congress in 2000 and most recently reauthorized in 2015. The program provides tariff-free access to the U.S. market for exports of most products from most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, 35 beneficiary countries are eligible. Eligibility depends on favorable annual reviews of a country’s trade and investment policy, governance, worker rights, human rights, and other conditions. Last week, President Biden released a statement strongly supporting the reauthorization of AGOA.

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Coons has long advocated for legislation that advances U.S. foreign policy and security interests, supports global economic development, and reinforces our alliances and partnerships.

The text of the discussion draft is available here.

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