[VIDEO] Senator Coons calls for passage of Afghan Adjustment Act on Senate floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) delivered a speech on the Senate floor this morning to highlight families that would benefit from the passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act and press for the bill’s inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act.

“Mr. President, just about two years ago, roughly 76,000 Afghans – those who served alongside American forces during two decades of conflict – and their families, were evacuated here to the United States on military planes and given two years of humanitarian parole. The Biden administration worked to extend that parole, but we have to ask ourselves: to what end?” said Senator Coons.

He continued, “These are our allies. Those who served and fought alongside our troops. Those who supported our mission and our engagement in Afghanistan, and who worked in an incredible array of jobs: interpreters, medics, security guards, mechanics, intelligence officers, journalists, bomb technicians, and pilots, and I know that today one family in Newark, Delaware, is waiting urgently to hear that we have taken up and passed this amendment to the [National] Defense Authorization Act.”

In July, Senator Coons reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghans who sought refuge in the United States due to the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops to apply for permanent legal residency after undergoing additional vetting processes by the U.S. government. The Afghan Adjustment Act is modeled after bipartisan bills that Congress has passed in the wake of other humanitarian crises and the Vietnam War. Currently, Afghans who were admitted on temporary humanitarian status can only gain permanent legal status through the asylum system or Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process, which face severe backlogs and long processing times. Allowing Afghan allies to apply for permanent legal residency will help provide certainty as they build their lives in the United States. 

Full audio and video available here. A transcript is provided below.

“Mr. President, just about two years ago, roughly 76,000 Afghans – those who served alongside American forces during two decades of conflict – and their families, were evacuated here to the United States on military planes and given two years of humanitarian parole. The Biden administration worked to extend that parole, but we have to ask ourselves: to what end?

“These are our allies. Those who served and fought alongside our troops. Those who supported our mission and our engagement in Afghanistan, and who worked in an incredible array of jobs: interpreters, medics, security guards, mechanics, intelligence officers, journalists, bomb technicians, and pilots. I know that today one family in Newark, Delaware, is waiting urgently to hear that we have taken up and passed this amendment to the [National] Defense Authorization Act.

“The head of household served as a bomb technician, as an EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] specialist in the Afghan forces, and I had a chance to have the blessing of meeting the mother of a Delaware soldier whose life he saved. I have heard over and over from our veterans, from our veterans’ families, from Afghans, from their families, that we have to pass this bill so that they have certainty, so that the strengths and talents they’ve brought to our country, they can use to put down roots and to have a foundation on which to build a family in peace in our nation.

“An interpreter, an Afghan interpreter now living in North Carolina, has said, ‘Permanent residency is linked to everything. What will happen to my family if our status fails? How will I provide for my family in this new country?’ Another interpreter, living now in Nebraska, describes their current situation as being ‘trapped’ – trapped as if ‘in prison.’ This uncertainty – this lack of clear status – harms the ability of our Afghan partners and friends to advance their careers, to put down roots, to start their new lives here in America with confidence. This uncertainty must end.

“These are folks who believe in the promise of America and who came here confident we would keep our word. On my phone, I was just looking a moment ago at a family celebration that I joined with Sher and Shkira in Newark, Delaware. I don’t want to give more details on them, other than to say that I remember that they and their children are waiting and watching to see what we will do here in the Senate.

“I want to thank my colleagues: Senators [Amy] Klobuchar [D-Minn.], and [Jerry] Moran [R-Kan.], and [Richard] Blumenthal [D-Conn.], and many others. Senators [Lindsey] Graham [R-S.C.], and [Jeanne] Shaheen [D-N.H.], [Lisa] Murkowski [R-Alaska], [Dick] Durbin [D-Ill.], [Roger] Wicker [R-Miss.], and [Thom] Tillis [R-N.C.], who have been cosponsors of this bill from the last Congress.

“It also has support: support from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Blue Star Families, the American Legion, and many other veteran groups. Some of the most prominent leaders in the military, [retired Navy Admiral] Mike Mullen, [retired Army General] Stan McChrystal, [retired Navy Admiral] William McRaven – forgive me for skipping their titles and ranks – but some of the most respected leaders in our military have endorsed this legislation.

“If you are worried, as some colleagues have said, that the folks brought here by the American military were not thoroughly vetted – this is the way to address it. It requires in-person interviews, oversight, consultations that will ensure that everyone currently here comes back in for one more in-person interview, vetting, and clearing. It also expands the opportunities for SIV visas for Afghan combatants and helps those still stuck in a hell outside our country that would allow families to be reunited.

“At the end of the day, I just have to thank two people and make one plea. I have to thank the family in Delaware who continues to inspire me and push me to support Senator Klobuchar in her tireless work to get this bill the vote it deserves. I want to thank my colleague, Senator Klobuchar, for hearing the voices of American veterans, for hearing the voices of Afghans now in our country who deserve legal status, and I join her in demanding a vote on this amendment in the [National] Defense Authorization Act.”

Senators Coons, Carper, Rep. Blunt Rochester celebrate $50 million in HUD funding for Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. – Officials with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that the City ofWilmington and the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) would be the recipient of a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods grant. The funding awarded to the Wilmington Housing Authority will be applied to continue the revitalization efforts currently underway in the Riverside communityand the greater Northeast Wilmington corridor. It will mark a significant effort in addressing equitable, accessible, and affordable housing in the First State.

“This is an incredible, transformative amount of funding and resources, and it will be invested into one of the most deserving communities in our state,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.). “The traditionally underserved and underrepresented Northeast Wilmington community has been evolving thanks to the gifted vision and hard work of Mayor Mike Purzycki, Executive Director Ray Fitzgerald of the Wilmington Housing Authority, and Logan Herring, CEO of The WRK Group (including The Warehouse, REACH Riverside, and Kingswood Community Center). This $50 million influx of federal funding will help further advance the efforts that are lifting up this community. This infusion will provide our community with the tools necessary to continue to address distressed housing, make way for greater economic opportunities, but most importantly, improve the quality of life for residents in Northeast Wilmington for generations to come. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, it brings me such joy to have played an integral role in delivering on priorities that are most important to Delaware. I look forward to continuing to yield such positive results for Delaware in the future.”

Senator Coons, his staff, and the partners who delivered the application–TheWRK Group,the Wilmington Housing Authority, the City of Wilmington, and Pennrose–have met countless times over the past five years during the process of developing the Choice Neighborhood Implementation (CNI) grant application. Those efforts had the full backing and support of Delaware’s congressional delegation. The delegation strongly called for the federal agency to invest in the efforts taking place in Wilmington by way of a letter of support which read, in part:

“CNI funds will build on a powerful foundation of assets andpartnerships, help introducenew services and amenities, and capitalize on the remarkable momentum created in the past few years to transform NE Wilmington, the state of Delaware, and Mid-Atlantic region. This program would undoubtedly assist the advancement of locally driven strategies that are aimed to address decades of chronic divestment, severely under-resourced affordable housing and will support an ongoing comprehensive plan focused on community revitalization using the model of Purpose Built Communities.”

While it took years of intense deliberation and effort, the city is about to see those visons turned into reality.

“Strengthening families takes an all-of-the-above approach, and this Choice Neighborhood Grant will help families in the Northeast with housing, education,and economic opportunities,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.). “This is a historic opportunity to make real change, and I applaud the vision of our community leaders who have worked hard to create positive change for generations to come.”

“Today’s announcement is about one word – community. The individuals, families, small business owners, community leaders, young people, and so many others who live in the City of Wilmington make this city strong,” said U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). “This investment of $50 million in federal funding into the Riverside community will be instrumental to the City of Wilmington, Wilmington Housing Authority, and the WRK Group’s continued revitalization efforts that have brought jobs, education, and more affordable and available housing options to the area. I am so proud to have joined Senators Carper and Coons in supporting this grant application to help continue to fill the affordable housing gap in Wilmington that will bring safety and stability for Delaware individuals and families to live, work, and thrive in Wilmington with dignity.”

“This grant will make a big difference in improving the quality of life for City residents,” said Governor John Carney. “This is another step in our efforts to address equitable and affordable housing in communities that have been long overlooked. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Wilmington Housing Authority, the WRK Group, and our federal delegation for their hard work and commitment to the residents of the City of Wilmington.”

“HUD’s mission is to improve lives and strengthen communities,” said Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Matthew Heckles. “This $50 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant is a once-in-a-generation investment in the City of Wilmington and the State of Delaware that will leverage over $400 million through public and private resources, give hundreds of families a great place to live, and create a new and vibrant community in the Northeast part of the city.”              

“A decade ago, Charlie McDowell, Rob Buccini, former WHA Executive Director Fred Purnell, and I visited the country’s first Purpose Built Community in Atlanta and marveled at this unique initiative’s impact,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “We were determined to bring this program, encompassing housing, education, community wellness,and community leadership, here to Wilmington to help build strong, economically diverse communities that provide the means to prosper. What our multiparty public-private partnership has achieved so far in Riverside in just a few years is nothing short of remarkable, and this is only the beginning. We are immensely grateful to HUD for recognizing our early successes and for giving Wilmington the means to build on those successes to continue to reimagine communities and transform lives.” 

“For too long, the Northeast Wilmington community has been relegated to the sidelines. Through The WRK Group’s partnership with Wilmington Housing Authority, the City of Wilmington, Pennrose Properties, and the amazing investment through the Choice Neighborhood Implementationgrant from HUD, we plan to change that,” said The WRK Group CEO Logan Herring. “This significant investment in a historically ignored community will transform the Northeast as we know it today. Our new community will feature beautiful and affordable homes, economic development opportunities for local and national businesses, and provide green space for families to grow in, as well as educational and workforce development pipelines. I thank our partners, our congressional delegation, and HUD for their commitment to our community.”

Senators Coons, Wicker introduce bill to reduce debt-based driver’s license suspensions

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced the bipartisan Driving for Opportunity Act to provide incentives to states that choose to end debt-based driver’s license suspensions. Millions of Americans have their driver’s licenses suspended simply because they are too poor to pay fines or fees, and not for any public safety reason. These debt-based driver’s license suspensions make it harder for Americans to go to work to pay off their debts and place an unnecessary burden on the police, diverting resources that should go to public safety. 

In addition to Senators Coons and Wicker, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). Senator Coons previously introduced the bill in the 117th and 116th Congresses.

“A driver’s license doesn’t just help you move from one place to another – it means access to their jobs, their livelihoods, and their communities for millions of Americans,” said Senator Coons. “Debt-based driver’s license suspensions not only severely restrict Americans’ mobility, they also make it nearly impossible for citizens to hold down a job and therefore pay back their debts. My bipartisan Driving for Opportunity Act would stop the disproportionate targeting of underserved populations, end the counterproductive policy that burdens our law enforcement, and break this vicious cycle of debt.”

“Suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid fines and fees is counterproductive,” said Senator Wicker. “Americans need access to vehicles to work and to care for their families. My home state of Mississippi rightly banned this practice in 2018. This legislation would encourage other states to follow our lead.”

“Taking away someone’s driver’s license due to unpaid debts is unnecessary and hurts that person’s chance of actually repaying the debt that they owe. This commonsense, bipartisan bill is supported by law enforcement because it lets people drive safely to work, without fear of arrest, so they can pay off what they owe and support their family’s needs,” said Senator Durbin.

“If the government wants people to pay fines, then the government shouldn’t prevent them from getting to work. Our bill resets the incentives to stop the circular problem of states suspending licenses for anyone who owes fines or fees. This is especially important in rural states like Iowa, where travel by car is even more necessary,” said Senator Grassley

“Driver’s licenses allow people to get to work, school, and doctor’s appointments so that they might eventually break out of a cycle of debt,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Our bipartisan legislation will put an end to debt-based driver’s license suspensions that penalize people with clean driving records who are trying to get on a stable path.”

“In a rural state like Arkansas, vehicle transportation is often the only practical way to get to work, home, and other important destinations. Cutting off an individual’s ability to travel, including to a job, because of unrelated fees is counterproductive in addition to having no effect on public safety. I’m proud to be part of the bipartisan effort to shield Americans from this unwarranted penalization,” said Senator Boozman.

“This bill would protect vulnerable Americans from losing their driver’s license – an everyday necessity – simply because they owe unpaid fines or fees. Without a license, people can’t get to work – and pay what’s owed – not to mention get kids to school, or get needed health care, and much more. Suspending driver’s licenses for offenses that have nothing to do with public safety, like missed child support payments or unpaid court fines, is counterproductive and traps the poorest Americans in a cycle of debt. This issue disproportionately affects communities of color and can significantly strain relationships with law enforcement. I’m glad to join a bipartisan group of colleagues to right this wrong,” said Senator Blumenthal.

“Having a driver’s license in Oklahoma is a requirement for most people to get to work many miles away and take care of kids and senior adult family members,” said Senator Lankford. “Losing a driver’s license because of an unpaid fine or fee can cause individuals to lose their job, which only further keeps them from paying the fines and fees. That is a nonsensical debtors’ prison for low-income drivers, not a public safety issue. We can and should help states provide compassionate flexibility to lift people out of this cycle of poverty.”

“Suspending licenses because of unpaid debts is unproductive and makes it harder for people to live out their daily lives, especially in rural states like North Dakota. Without a license, people can’t commute to work or the doctor’s office, hold a job, or support their family financially, creating a never-ending cycle of debt,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill incentivizes states to adopt laws which would relieve burdens put on police to enforce these suspensions and allows law enforcement to focus on public safety.”

“Taking away access to a driver’s license over debt is a totally counterproductive policy – it does nothing to advance public safety, but it does make it even harder for people to pay the very bills for which they are being penalized. Many Americans depend on being able to drive for bringing their kids to child care, getting to the grocery store – or most critically – getting to work. This bipartisan legislation will help us eliminate these misguided laws that trap too many Americans in poverty,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Financial holds on driver’s licenses are counterproductive, and only create more barriers on an individual’s ability to pay a fine or a fee. I’m glad to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues to introduce a commonsense solution to this issue,” said Senator Capito.

The Driving for Opportunity Act would authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to provide grants to states that do not suspend or refuse to renew a driver’s license for an individual’s failure to pay a civil or criminal fine or fee. The grants would be awarded to states to cover the costs of the driver’s license reinstatement programs, to build programs that would maximize the number of individuals who regain their driving privileges, and to assist people living in areas where public transportation is limited.

Research increasingly shows that suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid fines and fees negatively impacts families, communities, and law enforcement:

• It leads to increased unemployment and underemployment. According to a report by the Motor Vehicles Affordability and Fairness Task Force in New Jersey, 42% of those who lost their licenses due to certain non-driving-related offenses lost their jobs as a result, and 45% of those who lost their jobs were unable to find new employment. Eighty-eight percent of those who were able to find another job reported a decrease in income. A Harvard Law School report called the suspension of driver’s licenses “one of the most pervasive poverty traps for poor people assessed a fine that they cannot afford to pay.”
• It puts people at risk without benefit to public safety. According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, 75% of suspended drivers continue to drive, facing further fines, fees, and incarceration if they get pulled over. Police officers will then be required to make traffic stops as debt collectors, and unnecessary traffic stops can be unsafe.
• It does not help collections. A report by the San Francisco City Treasurer found that ending debt-based license suspensions in the city had “no negative impact on collections.” A report by Texas Appleseed noted that although Dallas suspends licenses for unpaid fines and fees and Fort Worth, Texas, does not, Fort Worth had slightly higher collections than Dallas did.
• It takes up law enforcement officers’ valuable time. Driving on a suspended license is a common charge in jurisdictions across the country, and consumes substantial police and prosecutorial resources.    
• It disproportionately harms rural communities and minorities. Only 11% of rural residents have access to public transportation services. Studies show that Black and Latino people are more likely to be the subject of traffic enforcement and have their license suspended, despite comparable traffic violation rates.

The bill text is available here.

Senator Chris Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senator Coons statement on the markup of fiscal 2024 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chair of the Senate State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today after the full committee markup of the fiscal year 2024 SFOPS Appropriations bill: 

“The fiscal year 2024 Appropriations Senate bill for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs is a bipartisan product that will strengthen our national security, enhance U.S. international leadership, and deliver on our commitments to partners and allies. We are often reminded that we live in a complex and dangerous world. Ensuring our safety and protecting livelihoods at home requires concerted, sustained engagement abroad. 

“This bill proves that, despite the many deep policy disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, we can and should work together to advance our national priorities and our constituents’ interests. It also demonstrates how the United States can promote values-based foreign policy, protect our national security, and improve our economic competitiveness and that of our allies. I thank Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), whose partnership has been invaluable.

“We faced budget constraints that required tough choices when drafting this bill, and the need for supplemental funding to address global humanitarian crises and sustain our support for Ukraine is clear. I look forward to working with my colleagues to address these matters in the coming weeks and months.”

Highlights of the FY 2024 SFOPS bill include:

Funding U.S. diplomacy and development efforts. The bill provides $61.6 billion in funding for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other agencies and programs.

Supporting the diplomatic and development workforce. The bill includes $12.1 billion for State and USAID operations – a $255 million increase above the fiscal year 2023 level – to make critical investments in staff, training, cybersecurity, and other operational flexibilities to ensure our personnel have the resources to implement U.S. foreign policy priorities and programs.

Bolstering economic resilience, development finance, export, and trade tools. The bill establishes a new $565 million Economic Resilience Initiative to expand investments in high-quality and sustainable infrastructure, including transportation corridors, critical minerals, and information and communications networks, and to secure critical supply chains. It includes a new $200 million account for the U.S. Department of the Treasury to increase financing through international financial institutions for infrastructure and energy security activities to help mitigate partner-nation reliance on substandard or coercive forms of lending. The bill also provides increases for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

Investing in global health programs and humanitarian assistance. The bill bolsters global health security by maintaining robust bilateral global health funding levels (including $900 million for global health security) and providing targeted increases to key global health initiatives, such as funding a new global health workforce initiative and increasing the U.S. contribution to the GAVI vaccine alliance to $300 million. The bill provides $9.1 billion for humanitarian assistance programs to meet the unprecedented level of forced displacement, food insecurity, and other emergency needs globally to save lives and stabilize communities. 

Supporting sustainable and inclusive development, democratic governance, and economic growth. The bill provides $9.4 billion for programs to support development and economic assistance programs, and includes increases for bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to support biodiversity, adaptation, sustainable landscapes, and clean energy programs, including $150 million for the Clean Technology Fund. The bill modernizes U.S. agriculture and food security programming by directing more resources to target countries that demonstrate the greatest need, increasing funds for research and development related to adaptive crops and soils, and leverages cooperation with the private sector. The bill also provides $100 million for two new foundations focused on conservation and food security, if authorized.

Meeting our commitments to international organizations. The bill provides $3.6 billion to meet our commitments to the United Nations and other international organizations, and increases funding to ensure that the United States continues to play a leadership role in these organizations. Funding in the bill expands the presence of Americans in entry-level U.N. jobs, the recruitment of U.S. candidates for U.N. agency leadership elections, and the detail of U.S. government subject-matter experts to key U.N. agencies.

Reducing the flow of fentanyl from overseas. The bill includes a new counter-fentanyl provision that increases funding for programs that target global flows of synthetic drugs and their precursor materials through related diplomatic engagement, law enforcement cooperation and capacity building, and governance capacity support. The bill also requires the Department of State to designate a Counter Fentanyl Coordinator to coordinate acceleration of these initiatives and fully funds the implementation of the FENTANYL Results Act.

Enhancing U.S. strategic engagement globally. The bill supports key allies and partners – including fully funding the MOU with Israel – and expands U.S. funding and engagement in key regions like the Indo-Pacific, including Pacific Island countries and Taiwan.

Expanding oversight of funding. The bill includes funding above the budget request for the Inspectors General of the State Department and USAID, requires additional transition planning for the continued oversight of Afghanistan programs, and requires additional oversight of humanitarian assistance programs.

Senator Coons statement on Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement today after Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress:

“I was moved by President Herzog’s compelling speech in honor of the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations between the United States and Israel that touched on the bittersweet moments our two nations have faced, our decades of shared history, and his family’s unique place in that history. As today’s dozens of standing ovations showed, support for the U.S.-Israel alliance continues to be bipartisan and based on a shared commitment to democratic values. I expect we’ll see this bipartisan support again tomorrow when the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously votes to continue providing $3.3 billion in aid to Israel. Together, I know we’ll ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and carry out mutually beneficial defense, humanitarian, and development projects.”

Senator Coons is Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee and is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bipartisan legislation to allow Afghan allies in U.S. to apply for permanent legal status

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghans who sought refuge in the United States due to the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops to apply for permanent legal residency after undergoing additional vetting processes by the U.S. government. Currently, Afghans who were admitted on temporary humanitarian status can only gain permanent legal status through the asylum system or Special Immigrant Visa process (SIV), which face severe backlogs and long processing times. Allowing Afghan allies to apply for permanent legal residency will help provide certainty as they build their lives in the United States. 

“We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Afghan people for the ways they supported U.S. forces for almost 20 years, often at great personal risk,” said Senator Coons. “The Afghan Adjustment Act is a first step toward keeping our word as a nation and honoring that debt. This bipartisan legislation would provide a pathway to lawful permanent status for certain Afghan civilians, offering them a way out of legal limbo and the looming threat of deportation with great risk to their personal safety, and after failing to pass this bill last year, we should take it up and pass it swiftly now. Congress has a track record of passing similar legislation on humanitarian grounds, and it is shameful that we have not done so yet.”

The Afghan Adjustment Act would also improve and expand the SIV process, such as broadening SIV eligibility to include groups that worked alongside American forces like the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command and the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan. Companion legislation is being led in the House of Representatives by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa). 

Modeled after bipartisan bills that Congress has passed in the wake of other humanitarian crises and the Vietnam War, the Afghan Adjustment Act would: 

• Allow Afghans on humanitarian status who submit to additional vetting – including an in-person interview – to apply for permanent legal status. For these Afghans, the primary options under current law to gain permanent status are through our asylum system or the burdensome SIV process;
• Expand the SIV program to include previously omitted groups, including the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command, the Afghan Air Force, and the Special Mission Wing of Afghanistan; and
• Establish a task force to develop and implement a strategy for supporting Afghans outside of the United States who are eligible for SIV status and require the Department of State to respond to congressional inquiries about SIV applications.

In addition to Senator Chris Coons, the legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Senator Coons previously introduced the bill in the 117th Congress.

The legislation has received the endorsement of many groups, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Blue Star Families, and more. 

VIDEO: Senator Coons chairs second Judiciary IP Subcommittee hearing on artificial intelligence in a series

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators and Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) held a hearing today focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright law.

The hearing, entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property — Part II: Copyright,” welcomed creators and experts on the topics of intellectual property and artificial intelligence to discuss how AI companies are using copyrighted works to train AI models; whether using that copyrighted content for training constitutes infringement; whether AI-generated creations should be eligible for copyright protection; and whether changes to the laws may be needed to address AI-related creation. 

At the hearing, Senator Coons discussed how policy should incentivize AI innovations and creations while also respecting creators’ rights and work. He also raised proposals, including a federal right of publicity, to establish U.S. policy leadership while maintaining a strong creative sector.

In his opening remarks, Senator Coons also premiered “AI, AI,” a song parodying “New York, New York,” that was entirely written and created by generative AI programs to demonstrate the opportunities and challenges AI can pose for creators.

For information on the first IP subcommittee hearing on AI entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property — Part I: Patents, Innovation, and Competition,” click here.

A video and transcript of Senator Coons’ opening remarks are available below.

WATCH HERE

Senator Chris Coons: This hearing will come to order. I’d like to thank all of our witnesses for participating today, and I’d like to especially thank my friend and colleague, Ranking Member Thom Tillis, and his staff for working with us on such a collaborative basis to put this hearing together. Welcome back from Vilnius. Senator Tillis was over at the NATO Summit, and I’m thrilled he’s able to join us, and we’re able to do this hearing today. This is our second hearing in as many months on the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property law and policy. You and your team have been great partners in pursuing this. If you will indulge me for a moment, senator, before I proceed with my remarks, I’d like to ask that we play just a little clip of something to frame the challenges of this topic. Made with the permission of all the relevant rights holders:

“Start spreading the news

AI’s got something to say.

It’s coding it its own way

learning the rules today.

These digital minds 

they’re making the headlines

creating new sounds and rhymes

in a world where tech combines 

AI, AI…”

Thank you for your forbearance. Yes, a round of applause is certainly welcome.

My team actually produced a version of that where it is a duet between me and Frank Sinatra, but my voice came out so horribly flat; I didn’t want to impose that on any of you. 

Creating the song “AI, AI” to the tune of “New York, New York” was great fun, and I appreciate my team that worked so hard in pulling that off, but the very existence of it highlights a couple of the core questions around copyright raised by generative artificial intelligence. ChatGPT wrote the lyrics following the style of “New York, New York,” although perhaps not quite as moving and inspiring as the original words, to any but IP enthusiasts. Another generative AI tool was used to take Mr. Sinatra’s recorded songs, and his voice, and his phrasing, and his style, and set that to music. So, a couple of those core questions: Did ChatGPT infringe the copyright on “New York, New York” when it drafted lyrics representing its lyrical style? What about the AI tool that set those lyrics to music? Did either that tool or did I run afoul of Mr. Sinatra’s rights by mimicking his voice? In my case: no, because we got specific approval. Or did I just use AI tools to enhance my own creativity? And if so, should this newly created song be entitled to copyright protection?

These are just a few of the questions I hope we’ll explore with our panel of talented and insightful witnesses as we consider the impact of artificial intelligence on copyright law and policy and the creative community. As we all know, AI is rapidly developing. Generative AI tools have brought many new people into the creative fold and have opened new avenues for innovation. People who may not have ever considered themselves creatives are now using these tools to produce new works of art. Artists themselves have used AI tools to enhance their own creativity. Paul McCartney recently made headlines, announcing that AI helped create the very last Beatles song 50 years after the band broke up.

As I previewed, AI creates new copyright law issues, including whether using copyrighted content to train AI models is copyright infringement, whether AI generated content should be given copyright protection, and many more. These questions are working their way through the courts. How the courts decide them and the decisions we make here in the Senate and in Congress about how to respect and reinforce existing copyright protections and works will have significant consequences, not just for the creative community, but our overall competitiveness as a country. 

While generative AI models are trained on copyrighted content, IP considerations haven’t been included or sufficiently considered in proposed IP regulatory frameworks here in the U.S. In contrast, some of our competitors recognize IP policy as an important tool. The EU is currently planning to require AI companies to publish the copyrighted materials used in training models. The UK provides copyright protection for computer generated works. These are just some initial concerns, and I think there are initial steps that we can take to ensure sustained U.S. leadership on artificial intelligence.

First, it’s critical to include IP considerations in any regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, and to give our copyright office – and this framework – a seat at the table. We should also consider whether changes to our copyright laws or whole new protections, like a federal right of publicity, may be necessary to strike the right balance between creators’ rights and AI’s ability to enhance innovation and creativity. I’m excited to explore these issues today. We’ve got a great panel, and a great partner, and great members of the committee. With Senator Tillis’ cooperation, we’ve assembled this wonderful panel. I’ll introduce them shortly, but first I’ll turn it over to my ranking member, Senator Thom Tillis. 

Senators Coons, Moran introduce bill to expand US-Israel international development partnership

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the United States-Israel International Development Cooperation Act to expand and strengthen the development partnership between the United States and Israel. This legislation reauthorizes and expands a successful program that enables the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Israeli Agency for International Development and Cooperation (MASHAV) to co-develop and cooperate on international projects. The legislation will also study new opportunities for additional countries to participate in these joint projects.

“The United States and Israel’s unwavering, 75-year partnership will always be a bipartisan priority for Congress,” said Senator Coons. “Thanks to the harmony between our two nations, we’ve worked together to advance development projects that support peace and stability across the world. I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in passing this commonsense, bipartisan bill that demonstrates the United States’ commitment to international development efforts and reaffirms our nation’s unshakeable partnership with Israel.”

“Israel has long been one of America’s closest allies strategically located in the Middle East,” said Senator Moran. “Through partnerships with Israel, USAID has already had great success in providing humanitarian aid and education to impoverished countries around the globe. By increasing cooperative projects with Israel, this legislation will enable the U.S. and Israel to have an even greater impact around the world.”

USAID has a long history of partnering with MASHAV to leverage their resources and expertise in the areas of education, women empowerment, food security, humanitarian aid, and global health. In 2019, USAID and MASHAV signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on global development cooperation. This bill fulfills that MOU and enables the United States and Israel to continue working together while creating new partnerships with other countries throughout the world.

This bill has been endorsed by the American Jewish Committee, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Hadassah, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Jewish Federations of North America.

The text of the bill can be found here.

Senator Coons is Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bill to lower costs for renewable fuel standard compliance and fund domestic advanced biofuel sources

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.), and Brendan Boyle (D-Penn.) introduced the Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production & Independence Act today to bring down rising compliance costs associated with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and ensure our nation’s independent refiners can afford to continue production. This legislation will protect the jobs of refinery workers and create a new revenue stream that would fund investments in conservation, agricultural production, and advanced biofuel development. 

“The RFS program continues to create significant uncertainty and high compliance costs for small refineries like Delaware City Refinery in my home state. We can and must do more to address volatile and soaring compliance costs driven by fuel mandates that are out of step with domestic fuel demand,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this legislation to provide certainty and stability for small refineries and the good-paying union jobs they create.”

“The skyrocketing price of RFS compliance is threatening our Nation’s refining capacity and the futures of thousands of skilled union workers and their families across the Northeast,” said Senator Casey. “The Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production & Independence Act will provide certainty and predictability for the workers at merchant refineries like the Monroe Energy Refinery in Marcus Hook, all while supporting the transition to renewable fuels.” 

“In the midst of market uncertainty and fluctuating fuel costs, Congress has a responsibility to provide American workers and refineries with greater predictability,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan bill ensures market stability by requiring the issuance of renewable fuel credits at a lower and fixed price, as well as invests in innovations in biofuels and environmental conservation. I am grateful to this coalition of my House and Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their partnership on the Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production and Independence Act of 2023.”

“As a union electrician, I installed transmission cables at refineries along the Delaware River. They are critical to our national and regional economies and our workforce in South Jersey,” said Congressman Norcross. “While I support the intention for RINs to be an eco-friendly policy that facilitates the transition to renewable fuels, the outdated RIN system isn’t working. This arbitrary system has led to sky-high compliance costs that threaten our economy, national security, and union workers at these refineries. That’s why I’m introducing this legislation to control the volatility of the RINs market, strengthen our energy security, and provide certainty for our economy and workforce as we transition to a greener energy sector.”

“America must invest in an independent and sustainable energy future in order to ensure market stability and curb the worst impacts of climate change,” said Congresswoman Scanlon. “By updating the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – a decades-old program vital to reducing carbon dioxide emissions – this bill creates new revenue streams that support conservation and low-carbon energies while stabilizing an industry that employs thousands of union workers in our region. The Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production and Independence Act of 2023 is a critical step forward towards a better, cleaner energy future.” 

“This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is a crucial step in addressing Renewable Fuel Standard compliance costs,” said Congressman Boyle. “These costs pose a threat to the livelihoods of thousands of skilled laborers in our region. This legislation will help union workers by ensuring renewable fuel credits are issued at a lower, fixed cost for compliance, creating a new source of revenue to fund critical activities in this field.”

The Renewable Fuel Standard was created to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the United States’ renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil. In order to comply with the RFS, refiners must submit credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), which in recent years have sharply risen in price. As compliance costs have surged, many refiners are now spending more on RINs than all other operating costs combined, putting their long-term viability at risk.  

The Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production & Independence Act will reduce the cost of the RFS without adversely impacting ethanol consumption. Specifically, this bill would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue and sell “conventional biofuel waiver credits” at a low, fixed price for refiners to use for RFS compliance if they are unable to obtain RINs in the marketplace at cost-effective levels. The program would operate similarly to the EPA’s waiver credit program for cellulosic biofuel.  

The creation of a conventional biofuel waiver credit would create a new revenue stream that would be directed towards the following activities:   

• Grants and technical assistance for petroleum refiners to make investments in the development and deployment of advanced biofuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel or clean hydrogen.  

• Financial and technical assistance for agricultural producers to support investments in advanced biofuel crops and diversified cropping systems.  

• Conservation funding to support wildlife and habitat restoration in areas that have experienced significant land-use conversion.

The bill is endorsed by the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware County Council, the Greater Reading Chamber, the Pilot’s Association for the Bay and River Delaware, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Ironworkers Local 401, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Boilermakers Local 13, IBEW Local 654, IBEW Local 98, IUPAT District Council 21, Laborers’ Local 413, the National Wildlife Federation, NECA Penn-Del-Jersey, the PA Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Bus Association, the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, the Philadelphia Area Labor Management Committee, the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades, Philaport, the Pittsburgh Area Airport Chamber of Commerce, Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Plumbers Local 690, Sprinkler Fitters 692, Steamfitters Local 420, the United Steelworkers International, and USW Local 10-234. You can read a full list of endorsements here.

A one-pager on the bill is available here. Bill text is available here.

ICYMI: Senator Coons on Face the Nation: “Because of President Biden’s leadership, NATO is the strongest it’s ever been”

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Face the Nation on CBS yesterday to discuss the billions of dollars in new investments in semiconductor chips and advanced manufacturing in America, President Biden’s steadfast leadership in strengthening NATO, and security assistance for Ukraine.

You can watch the full interview here.

Margaret Brennan:A lot to talk about, but I want to start with China. America is reliant on its greatest adversary for key things: for missiles, for computer chips, electric vehicles. Do we need a domestic industrial policy? Why don’t we have one?

Senator Coons:We do have one, Margaret. That’s what the CHIPS and Science bill that President Biden signed into law last year, that Congress moved forward on a bipartisan basis, has delivered: tens of billions of dollars of new investments in onshoring semiconductor chip manufacturing, a record number of new advanced manufacturing sites in the United States.

There’s more work for us to do on this in this Congress, and Senator Schumer and Republicans in the Senate are leading work on that. We have turned a corner on having an industrial policy in the United States that brings back manufacturing. That’s the core of Bidenomics:rebuilding our economy from the middle out.

…

Senator Coons: There has to be a security guarantee for Ukraine going forward. For them to be conceivably admissible to NATO, their equipment, their training, their military has to be up to NATO standards, and we are moving them in that direction; but I’ll remind you back in 1994, in Budapest, the U.S., U.K., and Russia persuaded Ukraine to give up their nuclear weapons in exchange for a commitment to a territorial security guarantee. Some sort of security guarantee for Ukraine has to be on the far side of this war, where so many Ukrainians are fighting and dying bravely to push back out the Russian aggressors who are occupying 20 percent of Ukraine today.