Senator Coons announces Logan Herring Sr. from The WRK Group (The Warehouse, REACH Riverside, and Kingswood Community Center) as State of the Union guest

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today announced that his guest for President Biden’s State of the Union address tonight will be Wilmington’s Logan Herring Sr., CEO of The WRK Group (The Warehouse, REACH Riverside, and Kingswood Community Center). 

“Under Logan’s leadership, REACH Riverside is doing incredible work to help revitalize and reimagine one of the most historically underserved parts of Wilmington,” said Senator Coons. “Logan’s work with REACH Riverside, The Warehouse, and the Kingswood Community Center makes our community and state stronger every day, and I am proud to have him join me in Washington this week to watch President Biden’s historic address.” 

“From the first day I was entrusted with Riverside, one of Wilmington’s most beloved communities, Senator Coons has stood by us with unwavering support. When we have a difficult time making a decision at The WRK Group, the deciding factor is always what is best for the community, and Senator Coons embodies those same values,” said CEO Herring. “I have seen him work across the aisle, and in partnership with Senator Tom Carper and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, to do what is best for our communities in Delaware and across our country. For this, I am honored to be his guest for the address and partner in this work.”

Herring is a lifelong Delawarean and a committed public servant. Since 2018, he has served as CEO of REACH Riverside, a 501(c)3 and an innovative Purpose Built Community (PBC) designed to improve housing, educational, and community opportunities in the Riverside community of Wilmington. Herring also serves as CEO of the Kingswood Community Center, a cornerstone of the Riverside community, and The Warehouse, a dynamic new space in Northeast Wilmington designed for teens by teens that provides city youth with the tools and opportunities necessary to achieve success. In November, Senator Coons and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy visited REACH Riverside’s Teen Warehouse. Senator Coons has visited other PBC network sites in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Atlanta; and elsewhere throughout the country. 

Senator Coons serves as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Alongside Senator Tom Carper and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (both D-Del.), Senator Coons secured nearly $100 million for projects across Delaware in the FY 2023 omnibus, including funds for REACH Riverside.

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Senator Coons highlights impact of U.S. global leadership on Delaware economy and security at Wilmington conference

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today led the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) Mid-Atlantic Summit, a multi-panel conference featuring political, business, and community leaders from across the state, nation, and world. The conference discussed how America’s diplomacy and development assistance strengthen U.S. national security and create new opportunities for Delaware businesses. This was the first in-person Mid-Atlantic Summit since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today’s conference featured speakers from all over our country — from state government to the federal government, from the business sector to the nonprofit sector — on how Delaware is impacted by the world and Delaware’s impact on the world,” said Senator Coons. “We had positive and engaging conversations about ways that we can help grow Delaware’s business exports, from poultry and soybeans to manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and financial services, and how we can help manage our way through the consequences of the pandemic, global climate change, and the threats to our security. I’d like to thank our panelists and moderators for joining us today, and I look forward to continue demonstrating how our state benefits from our nation’s strong links to partners and allies around the globe.”

The summit’s first panel, “Next Steps After the Africa Leaders Summit,” focused on the future of U.S.-Africa relations, the possibility of growing Delaware exports to Africa, and engagement with the African diaspora in Delaware and across the country. Kenyan President William Ruto participated in the panel virtually.

The second panel, “Addressing Threats: Global Health & Climate Change,” brought together leaders from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the private sector, and global health NGOs to discuss how to prepare for future pandemics and other global health threats, as well as the increasing challenges brought about by climate change. It also explored the opportunities that exist for Delaware businesses working in green energy and life sciences.

The final panel, “Meeting the Moment of Rising Global Crises,” featured a free-flowing conversation between Senator Coons, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (who appeared virtually), and former U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The panel touched on U.S.-China relations, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, bipartisan climate solutions, and other global crises.

A recording of the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit can be found here.

Additional Mid-Atlantic Summit participants included Bethany Hall-Long (D), Lieutenant Governor of Delaware; Matt Meyer (D), County Executive of New Castle County, Delaware; Mike Purzycki (D), Mayor, City of Wilmington, Delaware; Liz Schrayer, President and CEO, USGLC; Dr. Donna Patterson, Director, African Studies Program, and Chair, Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy, Delaware State University; Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council; Dr. Atul Gawande, Assistant Administrator for Global Health, USAID; Dr. Kris Vaddi, CEO, Prelude Therapeutics; Teresa Christopher, Head of Climate, Sustainability, and Environmental Policy, Amazon; and Kasie Hunt, Anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst, CNN.

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

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Senator Coons statement on the passing of Bishop Aretha E. Morton

WILMINGTON, Del. — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the passing of Bishop Aretha E. Morton:

“Annie and I are truly saddened to learn of the passing of Bishop Aretha E. Morton. Bishop Morton was not only an inspiration to her friends, family, and congregation, but she was a valued and trusted community and civic leader in our city and state. Our prayers are with her family — most especially her children — and we hope that they find comfort in knowing that Bishop Morton’s life of service left a permanent positive mark on many, whether through her service, ministry, or wisdom. 

“Bishop Morton was a trailblazer who persevered fearlessly in her pursuit of justice, setting forth for others a pathway toward opportunity, shattering barriers and overcoming inequities that discriminated against many throughout the community. Bishop Morton was Delaware’s first female pastor of a Baptist church, Wilmington’s first female African-American to be named Chaplain of the Wilmington Fire Department, a founding member of the Interdenominational Ministers Action Council, and a founding member of the Hope Commission. Her service spanned decades and touched many lives. It is often said that today’s community leaders ‘stand on the shoulders of giants,’ and sadly today our community mourns the loss of a giant who served as a cornerstone for many generations.”

Senator Coons, colleagues reintroduce “Ethan’s Law” to ensure safe firearms storage

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) reintroduced Ethan’s Law with 186 Members of Congress, legislation requiring gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms. Named in honor of Ethan Song, a teenager from Guilford, Connecticut, who was tragically killed in 2018 by an unsecured gun in a neighbor’s home, the bill would create federal requirements for safe gun storage and establish strong penalties for any violations. With loaded and unlocked guns in the homes of an estimated 4.6 million American minors and killing or injuring eight children or teens every day, Ethan’s Law would reduce access to these unsupervised firearms often used in suicides, school shootings, and other acts of violence. Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Improper storage of firearms tragically leads to the deaths of thousands of children and untold pain for countless families each year in Delaware and across the country,” said Senator Coons. “Ethan’s Law is commonsense policy that requires the safe and secure storage of firearms. Congress should honor Ethan and the far too many American children who have been taken from us too early due to a preventable tragedy by passing this bill and tackling one part of the gun violence epidemic in our nation.”

“No one should have to face the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one because of an unsecured firearm. Under Ethan’s Law, responsible safe storage requirements will help prevent these senseless, unnecessary deaths and protect the thousands of children living in homes with unsecured guns,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Through their tireless work, Kristin and Mike Song have been the face of courage and resilience – turning their grief into action. Their advocacy has saved lives across Connecticut, and passing this legislation will save lives across the country.”

“It’s simple – safe gun storage saves lives. I’m grateful to the Song family, who have turned unimaginable tragedy into advocacy. I’m proud to join Senator Blumenthal and Congresswoman DeLauro in reintroducing this important legislation. Connecticut has already proven that Ethan’s Law will protect more kids from unsecured firearms, and Congress should follow suit,” said Senator Murphy.

“If this commonsense safety measure had been in place, Ethan Song’s needless death could have been prevented,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “In fact, the lives of thousands could be saved. There is no reason a child should be able to easily access a deadly weapon. Last Congress, we passed Ethan’s Law in the House of Representatives for the first time, and on a bipartisan basis. Congress must act, and once more pass Ethan’s Law to protect our children and families from senseless violence. I thank Kristin and Mike Song for leading the movement to protect our children, and for turning great personal loss into a drive to prevent similar tragedies for other families. We will keep fighting until Ethan’s Law is the law of the land.”

“Today marks five years since the ER doctor whispered, ‘your son is gone,’ and my family’s world shattered. We will never hear Ethan’s laugh, see his infectious smile, or look into his beautiful green eyes again,” said Kristin Song. “We are walking an unimaginable journey; it is hell on earth. I know you don’t think it can happen to you. I didn’t either. Our goal in passing Ethan’s Law is to create a cultural shift where it becomes second nature for gun owners to secure their weapons if they are not in their immediate control. This law will not stop all the shootings, but it will stop many, and to those children and parents, that is priceless.” 

Under Ethan’s Law, gun owners would be required to secure their firearms in a “secure gun storage or safety device” if a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without permission, or if a resident of the dwelling cannot legally possess a firearm under existing law. The bill also includes incentives for states to pass and enforce their own safe gun storage laws.

Delaware passed its own safe storage law in 2019. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Ethan’s Law as part of the Protecting Our Kids Act, a broader legislative package focused on addressing America’s gun violence epidemic. Twenty-four states already have some form of safe storage or child access prevention laws on the books.

In June 2022, Senator Coons joined a bipartisan group of 20 senators to negotiate and pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in the Senate by a vote of 65-33 after 30 years of inaction on gun violence. President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act on June 25, 2022.

In addition to Senators Coons, Blumenthal, and Murphy, the legislation is cosponsored in the U.S. Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Ethan’s Law is also endorsed by more than 160 gun violence prevention and law enforcement advocacy groups, including the Newtown Action Alliance, Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, Sandy Hook Promise, and March For Our Lives.  

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ICYMI: Ahead of National Prayer Breakfast, Senator Coons appears on The Russell Moore Show to discuss faith and fellowship in the Senate

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined The Russell Moore Show with Dr. Russell Moore, Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today, to discuss tomorrow’s National Prayer Breakfast, Senator Coons’ participation in the Senate’s weekly prayer breakfast, and how his faith has brought him closer to colleagues from across the political spectrum. He also discussed the impact of social media on politics and the future of political discourse heading into the 2024 elections.              

You can listen to the whole interview here.

Senator Chris Coons: [E]very Wednesday in the Senate, and every Thursday in the House, a small bipartisan group of Senators and members of the House of Representatives gather — two-dozen, often, in the Senate, something I’ve participated in regularly in my 12 years there, and it is off-the-record. There’s no staff, no press, no lobbyists – nobody but Senators and our chaplain, and as a group, we gather to share our concerns about our families and our lives, to pray for each other, to hear a piece of Scripture, read, and to sing a hymn. Then, whoever is that week’s guest speaker offers a witness about the role of faith in their life … and every time that I woke up in Delaware at 5 a.m. during the years I was commuting every single day, in order to get on a train just after 6, in order to make it to the Capitol just after 8 for that breakfast; every time I woke up and thought “really, do I want to do this? What am I going to learn from, say, a [Senator] Mike Lee [R-Utah] or a [Senator] John Barrasso [R-Wyo.]?” I made myself go and was rewarded with some remarkable insights into the heart and the life of another member of the Senate whose politics might be very different from mine, but whose life experience was well worth hearing.

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Senator Chris Coons: I do think this reset allows us to focus on the core mission [of the National Prayer Breakfast], which is a celebration of the power of prayer. … It is not a Christian triumphalist gathering, it is open to all faiths and people of all backgrounds, and my hope is that this year’s guest list will reflect that, that the speakers will reflect that. I’ve offered some input for the President on his remarks and I’m hopeful that his spirit will reflect that to the extent that we can show a spirit of humility, bipartisanship, or even nonpartisanship, and a respect for each other in the inclusive way that Jesus witnessed to the world and opened his arms to the world, and then I think we will have done something good.

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Senators Coons, Rubio reintroduce legislation to improve domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities for emerging public health threats

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reintroduced the Agility in Manufacturing Preparedness Act this week to require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to contract with the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) for the purpose of evaluating the current capacity and vulnerabilities of biopharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States. NIIMBL is a public-private partnership focused on improving manufacturing capabilities through its cutting-edge expertise, which would help the federal government enhance its preparedness and response capabilities for emerging public health threats. Senators Rubio and Coons first introduced this bill as an amendment to the Senate’s Endless Frontier Act in May 2021 and again as a standalone bill in 2022. 

“The current global health crisis has once again underscored the importance of sustained attention to potential threats and our preparedness for them. Expanding our manufacturing capacity in the United States and ensuring that we are ready to swiftly respond to the next threat – whether another pandemic or something else – is imperative,” said Senator Coons. “The Agility in Manufacturing Preparedness Act will improve our medical preparedness and bring new jobs in STEM production back to the United States.” 

“The secret to America’s economic success has been our ability to make things and to innovate for the future. When we do both, we create stable, well-paying jobs that power a strong country. This bill will help small firms engaged in manufacturing production secure the capital they need without the demand for immediate, outsized returns. The success of these companies is critical to confronting the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and to bringing good jobs back to America,” said Senator Rubio. 

The legislation specifically requires NIIMBL, in partnership with HHS, to:

• Review current domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity at HHS and its adaptability to various threats;
• Draft recommendations for developing, demonstrating, deploying, and advancing new domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies that address gaps in HHS’ current capabilities;
• Align federal technologies with private-sector capabilities, including those through BARDA’s new BioMAP initiative; and
• Identify other opportunities and priorities to improve U.S. public health, medical preparedness and response capabilities, and domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.

The full bill text is available here. 

Senators Coons, Durbin, Tillis, Grassley introduce legislation to improve coordination between USPTO and FDA

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a task force between the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve communication and coordination in implementing each agency’s activities related to patents. This legislation passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 117th Congress by voice vote.

“Improving communication between the FDA and the USPTO will help incentivize innovation and ensure our continued leadership on the global stage,” said Senator Coons. “Fostering efficiency and reducing bureaucracy among these agencies will benefit consumers and manufacturers alike, and I’m proud to join a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in this effort.”

“Establishing clear avenues for collaboration between the USPTO and FDA is essential for both agencies to operate smoothly and do their jobs effectively,” said Senator Durbin. “By incentivizing coordination, we can empower patent examiners and in turn boost competition, including for prescription drugs. Our government operates best when we work together, and I thank Senators Tillis, Coons, and Grassley for joining me in this bipartisan effort.”  

“By improving coordination between the USPTO and FDA, Congress will ensure that patent examiners have access to all of the relevant information that they need to help them make a sound determination regarding patentability,” said Senator Tillis. “This bill is a simple good-government measure that will protect the strength of the patent system, improve patent quality, and cut down on unnecessary bureaucracy.”

“When government agencies fail to coordinate effectively, taxpayers are the ones who pay the price. The USPTO and the FDA would benefit from improved communication and cooperation. Our proposed task force will encourage enhanced collaboration between the agencies, in turn helping taxpayers by increasing competition and trimming bureaucratic red tape,” said Senator Grassley.

Given the interaction and overlapping jurisdiction between the USPTO and FDA, this legislation promotes efficiency and good governance by fostering communication between the two agencies while respecting their distinct purviews. Specifically, the task force that this legislation establishes would enhance information-sharing on each agency’s processes, standards, and methods; improve dialogue on new technologies and scientific trends; and enable confidential reciprocal access to information related to prior art (if requested and only as needed), consistent representations from companies to the two agencies, and accurate patent listings.        

This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by AARP and Patients for Affordable Drugs Now.

Along with this bill, Senator Coons has been a leader in patent policy. Senator Coons has worked on creating other fast-tracked U.S. Patent Office services, assisted with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and introduced legislation to protect design patents.  

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Senators Coons, Cramer introduce bill to expand affordable housing access for low-income families in rental assistance program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) re-introduced their Choice in Affordable Housing Act yesterday to improve the federal government’s largest rental assistance program. The bipartisan bill would make it easier to access Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) — often referred to as Section 8 vouchers — and attract and retain landlords to the program. As a result, eligible low-income families will have increased housing choices and improved access to high-opportunity neighborhoods. Senator Coons is a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds affordable housing programs. Senator Cramer is a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). The bill has been introduced in the House by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.)

“From my years serving Delaware as County Executive and Council President, I’ve seen firsthand the positive, life-changing impact that access to a decent, safe, affordable home can have for those trying to provide for their family,” said Senator Coons. “That’s why Senator Cramer and I are pushing for this legislation to increase the number of landlords who accept Housing Choice vouchers and expand access to rental assistance for low-income families. If we pass this bill, families in Delaware and across the nation will have more choices when they are looking for a home, while landlords will be better able to bring their properties into the Section 8 market.”

“Millions of Americans are struggling to find affordable housing, and with the cost of living on the rise, Congress should look to amplify existing federal housing programs,” said Senator Cramer. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill would enhance the efficacy of the Housing Choice Voucher program by reducing certain regulatory burdens, while establishing incentives to encourage more landlords to participate. It also increases funding for tribal programs and authorizes $500 million to create a Housing Partnership Fund named after former Fargo Mayor Herschel Lashkowitz, who dedicated much of his life to making affordable housing a reality for so many North Dakotans.”

“Housing means dignity, safety, and security. I’m proud to join Senator Coons in reintroducing the bipartisan Choice in Affordable Housing Act because, as a Senator who grew up in public housing, I know that increasing the availability of federal housing vouchers will change lives and pave a brighter future for hardworking families across my home state and the country,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock.

“I hear daily about the struggles families in Wyoming are facing due to the lack of affordable housing throughout our state,” said Senator Lummis. “The bipartisan Choice in Affordable Housing Act is commonsense legislation that will ensure more landlords accept Housing Choice Vouchers, providing much-needed relief for renters during ongoing housing shortages.”

“Encouraging more landlords to participate in the affordable housing program will open up more homes and neighborhoods to low-income families,” said Senator Moran. “Housing continues to be a need across our nation, and access to a safe and comfortable home can make a tremendous difference in the lives of Kansas families.”

“Without access to a safe, affordable place to live, it’s nearly impossible to find a job, manage your health, or engage with your community,” said Senator Smith. “But right now, virtually every Minnesota community has a shortage of quality, affordable housing. That’s deeply troubling. This bipartisan legislation would help increase affordable housing options in communities across the country. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bill passed.”

“It’s no secret that America is facing a housing affordability crisis, and reforms to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program are an essential step toward bringing more landlords into the program, expanding access to affordable housing, and ensuring every American has a safe and stable place to rest their head at night,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Right now, there simply aren’t enough landlords with enough befitting units to meet the demand of the Section 8 program, leaving far too many families fighting for too few openings. The Choice in Affordable Housing Act is a bipartisan solution that will help cut through unnecessary red tape and provide incentives to increase landlord participation in the program — which will, in turn, provide additional opportunity for families in the program to find quality housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods. As I work with my colleagues in the House to move this legislation forward in a bipartisan manner, I am proud to partner with Senator Coons and Senator Cramer on this proposal to help low-income families, seniors, and the disabled afford safe and decent housing in communities throughout the nation.”

The bill has been endorsed by the National Affordable Housing Management Association, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, Habitat for Humanity International, National Association of Realtors, National Association of Home Builders, RESULTS Education Fund, Enterprise Community Partners, Mobility Works, National Association of Residential Property Managers, National Leased Housing Association, Institute of Real Estate Management, National Rental Home Council, the Poverty & Race Research Action Council, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the National Multifamily Housing Council, the National Apartment Association, and the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing.

A list of all endorsements can be found here.

The HCV program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) helps more than 5 million low-income people, including the elderly and people with disabilities, in a total of 2.3 million households afford safe and decent housing in the private rental market. More than two-thirds of those households are headed by a person of color. Administered by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), families that receive a voucher pay 30% of household income toward rent and utilities while the PHA pays the landlord the remaining rent. HCVs increase housing stability, reduce homelessness, and each year lift more than 1 million people out of poverty.

The HCV program relies on private-market landlords to accept vouchers. Because the number of participating landlords has declined in recent years, voucher holders experience a difficult housing search process with fewer options. To increase voucher holders’ housing choices and improve access to high-opportunity areas, the Choice in Affordable Housing Act would:

1. Provide $500 million to create the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund. Named after the longtime Fargo, North Dakota, mayor who was an advocate for affordable housing, the funds would be distributed for:
1. PHAs to offer a signing bonus to a landlord with a unit in an area with less than 20% poverty;
2. PHAs to provide security deposit assistance, so that tenants can better afford to meet required deposits and landlords are assured greater protection against damages;
3. HUD to provide a bonus to PHAs that retain a dedicated landlord liaison on staff; and
4. Other uses as determined by the PHA and approved by the Secretary to recruit and retain landlords.

2. Increase funding to the Tribal HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program. To help renters on tribal land, the bill supports the Tribal HUD-VASH program for Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
3. Use neighborhood-specific data to set rents fairly. The bill would require HUD to expand its 2016 rule requiring the use of Small Area Fair Market Rents to calculate fair rents in certain metro areas.
4. Reduce inspection delays. Units in buildings financed by other federal housing programs would meet the voucher inspection if the unit has been inspected in the past year. New landlords could also request a pre-inspection from a PHA prior to selecting a voucher-holding tenant that would be good for 60 days.
5. Refocus HUD’s evaluation of housing agencies. The bill would encourage HUD to reform its annual evaluation of PHAs to promote an increase in the diversity of neighborhoods where vouchers are used. The bill also requires HUD to report to Congress annually on the effects of the bill.

Senator Coons has long been an advocate for housing assistance programs run by HUD. During his time in New Castle County government, he helped oversee HUD Section 8 rental assistance programs as well as HUD affordable housing grant programs like the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Community Development Block Grant.

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ICYMI: On ABC’s This Week, Senator Coons urges U.S. and partners to provide Ukraine with tanks

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) called on the United States and global partners to provide the Ukrainian military with battle tanks before an expected spring counteroffensive, even urging the Biden administration to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine if it will encourage the German government to move forward with the provision of the German-made Leopard tank to Ukraine. German leaders have said that they will not send their own Leopards or release allies to send their Leopards until the United States sends tanks of its own.

Senator Coons also praised the new $2.5 billion military aid package to Ukraine announced by the Biden administration last week, which includes the first shipment of Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Stryker armored fighting vehicles. You can watch the whole interview here.

Senator Chris Coons: Look, I think it’s urgent that we provide Ukraine with advanced main battle tanks. President Biden just announced another $2.5 billion, including sophisticated armored vehicles — American Bradleys and Strykers. I am concerned that Russia is rearming and preparing for a spring offensive. If it requires our sending some Abrams tanks in order to unlock … the Leopard tanks from Germany, from Poland, from other allies – I would support that. I respect that our military leaders think the Abrams is too sophisticated and too expensive a platform to be as useful as the Leopards, but we need to continue to work with our close allies and to move forward in lockstep. President Biden’s leadership on confronting Russian aggression in Ukraine is one of the best chapters of his very strong first two years. I do think we need to move forward quickly to provide the Ukrainians with the weapons they deserve, so they can continue their brave and successful fight against the Russians.

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Senators Carper, Coons seeking applications for U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware Judge

U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for consideration for the position of Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The objective of the EOI is to create a slate of qualified candidates for consideration for recommendation to President Biden. Candidates are recommended to the president by home state senators in a state where the vacancy exists. President Biden will formally nominate an individual to the Senate for its advice and consent.

The EOI should include: 1) a letter of qualification; 2) a detailed curriculum vitae; 3) the names of three references, two of which must be professional references; and 4) a completed questionnaire. Application materials can be obtained and submitted here. Questions can be directed to DistrictDE@carper.senate.gov or DistrictDE@coons.senate.gov.

All application materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.

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