Sen. Coons at University of Michigan: Our challenge is to “to make sure that freedom is armed better than tyranny.”

WILMINGTON, Del. — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, participated in the fourth annual University of Michigan Vandenberg lecture. He discussed the war in Ukraine and the domestic and international policy implications, along with the need for broader bipartisanship in Congress to tackle pressing global challenges.

Below are selected quotes from the lecture. The full discussion can be viewed here:

Senator Coons on Ukrainian security assistance:

“We are coming right up against a Cuban missile crisis moment in terms of a direct confrontation between NATO, the United States, the West, and Russia… This is a 1939 moment and so as we watch night after night, as our news shares with us graphic details of horrific assaults that are killing tens of thousands of civilians, and decimating ancient cities throughout Ukraine, we have to ask ourselves that very question: ‘How far are we willing to go? What is the line we’re willing to push’, and to hear President Zelensky’s plea that we need to make sure that freedom is armed better than tyranny.”

“… I think the question that we have to ask ourselves and the Europeans are asking us, is, first, will we actually heed that commitment [to NATO’s Article V]? Will the United States, across electoral cycles, reliably come to the aid of Lithuania or of a Balkan or Baltic state, if invaded by neighboring country…Will we come to the aid of a country like Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, that has sought NATO membership, is trying to get into NATO, is trying to align with the West, but is not currently covered by that NATO treaty? And then last, and this is a point President Zelensky of Ukraine has made repeatedly, pointedly, and at least in my case, effectively, that really troubles my conscience. In 1994, Ukraine had the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. And they willingly gave it up in exchange for a written commitment from the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

On the refugee crisis and our obligation to support Ukraine:

“This is the worst refugee crisis a country has faced since the Second World War. Syria, Yemen, other countries in the Middle East and North Africa have also endured horrific internal civil wars and displacement, but 10% of the population of Ukraine has fled in just a few weeks, and overwhelmingly the refugees of Ukraine are women and children. First, we have a profound moral obligation to come to their aid and to provide a financial support, food, temporary shelter, and other assistance to the 4.7 million Ukrainians who have already left their country and the 7 million or more who are already displaced within Ukraine…I think we have an obligation to provide every possible weapons system to the Ukrainian defenders. The challenge there is how far do we go up the technology scale and what is militarily most useful….

“…At some point, we are going to have to confront the reality that Putin may be willing to escalate beyond our willing to take risks. And if we allow Ukraine to become the Syria of Eastern Europe, I think we will have failed both the Ukrainian people, and this moment in history….The entire West is allied and organized in a way they haven’t been in decades, even the Swiss have imposed banking sanctions, and even the Swedes, who sat out the Second World War have sent material aid. In fact, Vladimir Putin’s violence and aggression, his barbarism towards the Ukrainian people, may have finally expanded NATO by having Finland and Sweden seek admission, something they’ve considered for years, but they’ve never actually sought. So, our obligation to the Ukrainian people is that their sacrifice be worth it. What is happening here is being watched by other autocrats around the world, from the DPRK and Iran to obviously, the PRC and Xi Jinping, leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. I think the future of the 21st century is going to be written in the next few weeks or months in how fiercely we are willing to defend freedom in Ukraine.”

On Congress’ role in foreign policy:

“We are in a tragically broken a period in terms of the Senate and policy setting… We are going to have to do another Ukrainian supplemental both to fund the war effort and to providing humanitarian assistance and reinforcements to the Eastern Flank of NATO… But we should not be doing this through emergency supplementals. We should not have last minute deals being cut between the leadership of the two parties with very little consultation and transparency…I think we need to be building in more robust support for the ongoing humanitarian crises and for the security needs that we are now going to see. NATO has a new focus, a new purpose. It was initially formed to resist Soviet aggression. It is now being re-strengthened and reformed, in some ways in direct opposition to Putin’s aggression. I do think we’re going to need to look at, over the long term, providing more investment in security and in development, diplomacy, and the softer sides of national security.”

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Carper, Coons’ judicial candidate Greg Williams nominated for US District Court bench

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, the White House announced that Gregory B. Williams, who was recommended by U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) for a judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, will be nominated for the bench. If confirmed, he will be the only judge of color to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, and the second African American judge to ever serve on the District of Delaware.

“Greg Williams will be an outstanding District Court judge for Delaware, and we are pleased to see an immensely qualified, respected lawyer elevated to this post,” said the senators. “His credentials are impressive, having previously served as president of the Delaware State Bar Association, in addition to an esteemed career as a litigator. Greg also has broad federal court experience, including with intellectual property and corporate law, and serves on the Attorney Advisory Committee for the District Court of Delaware. We applaud President Biden for making this appointment, and keeping his promise to ensure our nation’s courts reflect the diversity of our country. We have confidence that Greg will ably fill the post vacated by Judge Stark and leave his own indelible mark. The people of Delaware and our nation will be well-served with this nomination, and we look forward to a swift hearing and confirmation process.” 

Williams will be nominated for the judicial vacancy created when Judge Leonard Stark was confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He is a partner in the Wilmington office of Fox Rothschild LLP. He joined the firm in 1995 as an associate and was elevated to partner in 2003. Williams has served as a special master in complex civil cases for the District of Delaware since 2020. From 1986 to 1992, Williams served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He received his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1995 and both his B.A. and B.S. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 1990.

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Sen. Coons, Rep. Morelle call for 5-year boost to domestic manufacturing funding

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Congressional leadership calling for $1.2 billion in funding for the Manufacturing USA network in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. Across the country, the 16 institutes that make up the Manufacturing USA network bring together private, public, nonprofit, and academic organizations to develop and commercialize advanced manufacturing technologies, including biopharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and more. 

“We have before us an opportunity to secure the [Manufacturing USA] network’s continued success and growth: with $1.2 billion in funding over the next five years, the network could add as many as 15 new institutes, advancing U.S. leadership in more areas of next-generation manufacturing,” the senators wrote. “The innovations these institutes support create high-wage jobs, reduce trade deficits, and ensure the United States remains a global leader in manufacturing.”

“The Manufacturing USA network continues to expand, touching nearly every state. More than 2,100 organizations have partnered with the program, including community colleges, major research universities, and economic development entities,” the senators noted. “These partnerships have supported more than 1,600 major applied research and development projects and helped train more than 172,000 workers in advanced manufacturing.”

In addition to Senator Coons and Representative Morelle, the letter was also signed by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy:

Thank you for your leadership as we work together to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. As the House and Senate collaborate on conferencing the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre- Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength Act (America COMPETES) Act, we, the undersigned, bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators urge you to ensure that the Manufacturing USA Program, which is addressed by both bills, is authorized to receive at least $1.2 billion in funding over the next five years.

Manufacturing USA Institutes are public-private partnerships that receive federal funding from the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Commerce. Across the country, the 16 Manufacturing USA institutes bring together private, public, nonprofit, and academic organizations to develop and commercialize advanced manufacturing technologies. The innovations these institutes support create high-wage jobs, reduce trade deficits, and ensure the United States remains a global leader in manufacturing.

The institutes empower private sector manufacturers to produce new products quickly and cost- efficiently by leveraging the thriving Manufacturing USA network to develop new industrial processes. The network has attracted over $2 billion in private sector support, exceeding federal investment by more than 150%. This public-private cooperation on a large scale offers a low- cost, high-impact strategy to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and equip a 21st century workforce.

The Manufacturing USA network continues to expand, touching nearly every state. More than 2,100 organizations have partnered with the program, including community colleges, major research universities, and economic development entities. These partnerships have supported more than 1,600 major applied research and development projects and helped train more than 172,000 workers in advanced manufacturing.

The Manufacturing USA Program advances the shared objectives of USICA and America COMPETES: to bolster U.S. competitiveness, create good jobs, and strengthen our supply chains. We have before us an opportunity to secure the network’s continued success and growth: with $1.2 billion in funding over the next five years, the network could add as many as 15 new institutes, advancing U.S. leadership in more areas of next-generation manufacturing. We appreciate your consideration of our request and look forward to working together to ensure that this bipartisan bill is signed into law for the benefit of our communities and our country.

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Coons and Warner reintroduce legislation to support worker training

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) reintroduced legislation to give low- and moderate-income workers more access to lifelong learning opportunities. The Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act would establish a tax-preferred savings account with a generous government match to support workers looking to retrain or develop new skills throughout their careers.

In the coming years, more workers will be required to learn new skills throughout their careers. A National Academies of Sciences report focused on information technology and the U.S. workforce recently stressed the need to prepare individuals for the changing labor market. Due to automation, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that up to a third of the U.S. workforce will need to learn new skills or find new work in new occupations by 2030. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 87 percent of workers believe training and developing new job skills throughout their work life is essential to succeed in the workplace. The Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act would give workers a tool to access that training by providing them with a portable, government-matched savings vehicle for lifelong learning.

“By strengthening access to skills training and fostering a culture of lifelong learning, we can support American workers while ensuring we have a workforce ready to fill the jobs of tomorrow,” said Senator Coons. “That’s why I’m proud to partner with my colleague Senator Warner to invest in our future with this needed investment, and make available the growth and retraining we know will be vital in a competitive, global economy.”

“Access to lifelong learning and education is a critical tool that workers need to succeed in today’s economy. Therefore, it is essential for the federal government to support Americans’ ability to retrain and upskill throughout their career,” said Sen. Warner. “This is a no-brainer investment that would help workers continue to expand their skillsets and grow their earning potential. It would also help employers who need skilled workers to fill those jobs, particularly in a competitive labor market.”

“Small business owners often struggle to find skilled workers, which has become even more challenging during this competitive labor market,” said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. “In fact, Small Business Majority’s scientific opinion polling found more than one-third of small employers said it is difficult to find candidates with the right education, skills or training. Since small firms rarely have enough time to dedicate to extensive staff training or sufficient funds to pay for employee education, the Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act would be a huge boost to small businesses by offering them another way to invest in the development of their staff. This legislation would also help solo entrepreneurs invest in their own development and acquire skills without the aid of an employer.”

The Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act creates employee-owned Lifelong Learning and Training Account (LLTA) savings plans. Contributions to an LLTA by low- and moderate-income workers or their employers would be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar federal match of up to $1,000. Under this legislation, the federal matching funds would be directly deposited into the LLTA immediately after a contribution by the worker or employer. The worker would then get to choose how to use the LLTA funds, which could be applied towards any training that leads to a recognized post-secondary credential.

For workers that need to contribute to the cost of updating their job skills, this significant federal investment can make a huge difference in whether or not these workers seek additional training. If employers are willing to match employees’ savings, the returns can be even greater—a $500 contribution by a worker would create $2,000 in training opportunities (a $500 match by the employer, and then a $1,000 match from the federal government.) The accounts are portable from job to job, and always under workers’ control.

Contributions by workers and employers are after-tax dollars, but face no additional taxes on earnings if the LLTA funds are used for qualified training expenses. Eligibility is for workers age 25 to 60, with incomes of up to $82,000 per worker. States will manage the accounts. Accounts are designed to encourage the worker to use the funds to regularly update their skills, rather than build up large balances over many years. Restrictions are put in place to ensure that the government’s matching dollars go only to qualified training expenses.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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Coons, colleagues unveil resolution honoring former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 15 of their colleagues in introducing a resolution to celebrate the life, achievements, and legacy of former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright. In addition to commending Secretary Albright’s patriotism and public service in the pursuit of a more peaceful, prosperous, and cooperative world order, the bipartisan resolution extends the Senate’s sincere condolences and sympathies to Secretary Albright’s family and friends in the wake of her passing.

“Madeleine Albright will be remembered as a giant of American diplomacy,” said Senator Coons. “I had the blessing of knowing Secretary Albright’s humor, brilliance, talent, and remarkable insights into world affairs over many years, and I am pleased the Senate has taken a moment today to honor her immense contributions to our country and to our world. As a stateswoman and a fierce advocate for democracy and human rights, Madeleine Albright truly made a lifetime of difference.”

“With this bipartisan resolution, we honor Secretary Albright’s extraordinary contributions to our global community and her unparalleled dedication to serving others both as the first woman Secretary of State and throughout her tenure in public service,”said Chairman Menendez. “As a child, she fled fascism as a refugee, later becoming a leading voice for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. As in her life, Secretary Albright’s legacy will continue to shape American statecraft and to inspire foreign policy leaders and public servants for generations to come. She was a dear friend and mentor to me and to many, and she will be deeply missed.”

“Madeleine Albright, a giant in the field of foreign policy, was a fierce defender of democracy and internationally-recognized human rights across the globe,” said Ranking Member Risch. “This resolution honors the indispensable work she did on behalf of the United States and extends sincere condolences to Secretary Albright’s family and loved ones.”

Joining Senators Coons, Menendez, and Risch in introducing the resolution were Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). 

“Madeleine Albright embodied the ideals of America. She was a constant light in the struggle between freedom and oppression, relentlessly advocating for people to have rights she knew didn’t exist under authoritarian regimes. She broke the highest glass ceiling in her field, then spent the rest of her life fighting for opportunities for women. We’ll remember her as a diplomat and a trail blazer,” said Senator Schatz.

“Secretary Albright was a friend, a dedicated public servant, and a true champion for democracy around the globe,” said Senator Sullivan. “I was honored to work with her in our respective roles as Chairs of the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute. Secretary Albright will be greatly missed, but her life and legacy—which began when she and her family fled Soviet communism as a young girl, and led her to the highest branches of government—will help ensure the light of freedom and liberty continues shining brightly for many years to come.”

“A refugee who went on to become the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright’s life story is one of resoluteness and a reflection of the bright promises of democracy,” said Senator Romney. “Her service to our country and mark on U.S. foreign policy will be felt for generations to come.”

“Madeleine Albright was a Virginian, a tireless champion for democracy, and a dear friend. She represented the very best of America—an immigrant from Czechoslovakia who rose to the highest position in American diplomacy, paving the way for women around the world,” said Senator Kaine. “I’m glad the Senate passed a resolution today in her honor. I will miss her wise counsel.”

“Madeleine Albright came to the United States as a child refugee from war-torn Europe, fleeing Nazi and Soviet persecution. She grew up to become the first female Secretary of State – our nation’s top diplomat – breaking down barriers for generations of women to follow in her footsteps and stand on her shoulders. I’m proud to be one of those women and I’m honored to join members of the Senate to honor Secretary Albright for her service to our nation and for forging a path in government service that created space and leadership for women,” said Senator Shaheen. “As we mourn her loss, we don’t look back, but forward, on the opportunities she created for women around the world to realize their full potential. I urge Senate leadership to swiftly pass this resolution.”

“Secretary Madeleine Albright was a trailblazer, a leader, a seasoned diplomat, and a champion for all humankind. After arriving in the United States as a refugee, she always fought to give a voice to the voiceless. And she was a force to be reckoned with,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Her legacy will never be forgotten. This resolution is a fitting way to highlight her courage and leadership which will continue to serve as an example for generations to come.”

“The United States and the free world lost a giant with the passing of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,” said Senator Cardin. “She was a champion for democratic values and institutions, as well as diplomat extraordinaire, best-selling author, long-time leader of the National Democratic Institute, trailblazing Ambassador to the United Nations and glass-ceiling breaking Secretary of State. Secretary Albright also was the mother of three remarkably successful daughters and a mentor and friend to countless other women. Her contributions to strengthening American diplomacy and standing up for democracy cannot be overstated. She was an incredible leader and a presence the world will not soon forget.”

“Madeleine Albright was an accomplished diplomat, human rights champion, and trailblazer,” said Senator Merkley. “As the first woman to hold the position of Secretary of State, she broke barriers and has left a long lasting legacy of effective global diplomacy which will continue for years to come and serve as a model for future generations of diplomats.” 

Full text of the resolution is available here.

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Sen. Coons votes to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson as Associate Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. Senator Coons issued the following statement after the vote:

“Today, I was honored to vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to become an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

“As I learned during my meeting with her last month and in our week of confirmation hearings in the Judiciary Committee, Justice Jackson has a deep understanding of the Constitution, a balanced judicial temperament, and a great sense of the role of a judge in our democracy. She is a working mother, and a devoted daughter, sister, wife, and friend; someone with a wealth of judicial experience who earnestly knows and loves the Constitution from which our freedoms flow.

“Supreme Court decisions impact the lives of millions of Americans and the health of our system of democracy and the rule of law; it matters who sits on this Court and takes part in these decisions. Justice Jackson stands on the shoulders of those who went before her. Her parents were both proud HBCU graduates who went on to devote their careers to public education; her uncles and her brother served in law enforcement and the military. Justice Jackson is so well grounded in the institutions and traditions that have made our nation great, and it fills me with confidence to know that a person of her character and skill, with her background and judicial temperament will serve on the Supreme Court.”

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Senate passes Coons-Clyburn bill to commemorate Brown v. Board of Education sites across multiple states

Once signed into law, sites in Delaware, South Carolina, Kansas, Virginia, and D.C. will receive new National Park Service designation 

House committee unanimously passed bipartisan bill on Wednesday

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation last night to commemorate the historic sites that contributed to the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The purpose of this legislation—first introduced by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.)—is to expand theBrown v. Board of Education National Historic Site to include historic sites in South Carolina and designate National Park Service (NPS) Affiliated Areas in other states. It would recognize the importance of the additional sites that catalyzed litigation in Delaware, South Carolina, Kansas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia by designating them NPS Affiliated Areas, and expand the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas.

On Wednesday, the bipartisan bill unanimously passed in the House Committee on Natural Resources. The House will soon consider the bill, and then it will go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.  

“The painful but significant impact the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine had on our nation must never be forgotten. With new National Park Service designations, we will better honor and remember those who worked to correct the injustice of school segregation in Delaware and states across the country,” said Senator Coons. “I was raised just a few hundred yards away from the so-called Hockessin Colored School – one of the segregated schools that played a role in the Brown v. Board of Education case, but I did not learn until law school that two cases successfully challenging Delaware’s segregated school system eventually made their way to the Supreme Court and became part of the Brown decision. We must ensure that future generations learn this history, and the best way to do that is by improving and expanding the community spaces that document and share these stories.”

“The integration of our nation’s public school system was a critical step toward making America’s greatness accessible to all of her citizens,” said House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn. “Brown v. Board of Education and its companion cases undeniably chartered a course forward, creating educational equity in communities across the country. I am proud to join Senator Coons in leading this legislation to expand the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Kansas, to include other historic sites that played a critical role in catalyzing the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision. Summerton High School and former Scott’s Branch High School in my home state, are historic sites connected to the Briggs v. Elliott case that will continue to tell the story of struggle and perseverance for years to come. I commend the Senate for taking action on this bill and look forward to swift passage of similar legislation in the House.”

The legislation was crafted in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In the Senate, the bill was originally cosponsored by U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).

“South Carolina played a prominent role in one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions in the history of our nation,” said Senator Graham. “It is important we protect and preserve these historical sites so future generations can learn from them. I appreciate my Senate colleagues working to advance this important legislation as well as the leadership of Congressman Clyburn on this issue in the House.”

“Seventy years ago, 16-year-old Barbara Johns led a walkout to protest school segregation alongside all 450 of her fellow Black classmates at the Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. Ms. Johns’ student-led demonstration spurred one of the five cases that would eventually head to the Supreme Court under the Brown v. Board of Educationlawsuit,” said Senator Warner. “As we honor Barbara Johns’ legacy in the halls of Congress with her statue, I’m proud to join this effort to commemorate the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site and further recognize the vital role played by the R.R. Moton School in Farmville in ending school segregation.”

“The Brown v. Board of Education case changed the course of history, but it didn’t happen overnight. It was the work of many individuals and court cases — including the Briggs v. Elliott case in Summerton, South Carolina — that made this landmark decision possible,” said Senator Tim Scott. “I’m proud to have supported this bipartisan effort to protect historic sites and ensure the full story behind Brown v. Board is heard and remembered for generations to come.”

“Brown v. Board of Education stands to this day as one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions, ending the unjust notion of ‘separate but equal’ in our nation’s schools for good. We must ensure future generations learn about our history, including the many institutions that contributed to the decision to end school segregation,” said Senator Carper.“Places like the Hockessin Colored School, Claymont Community Center, and Howard High School in Delaware played a crucial role in this movement and are still working today to advance social justice and progress today. I’m so proud the Senate could come together today to pass this bipartisan bill, which will guarantee these sites are forever recognized for their part in our nation’s history.”

“Kansan Linda Brown and her parents took their case all the way to the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education, leading to the unanimous overturn of the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that discriminated against school children because of their skin color,” said Senator Moran. “I look forward to the President signing this legislation into law to expand and preserve the historic sites in Kansas and around the country connected to this case. Kansas has played a key role in the civil rights movement, and we must seek to preserve this legacy which calls on all Americans to uphold the self-evident truth that all men and women are created equal.”

“In April 1951, Barbara Johns led her classmates in a protest to demand better conditions for Black students at the segregated Moton School in Farmville, Virginia. I’m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan bill to honor the Moton Museum and other historic sites connected to Brown v. Board of Education,” said Senator Kaine. “As we approach the 68th anniversary of this landmark ruling, we must continue to tell inspiring stories of Americans fighting for equality and recommit ourselves to upholding the principle of equal protection under the law.”

“Decades ago, parents in the Topeka area stood up for their children and fought against segregation, ultimately leading to a vital Supreme Court decision that changed our nation for the better,” said Senator Marshall. “Kansas has a rich history of engagement in the fight for civil rights and these historical sites hold a special place in our hearts. I am proud to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to advance this important legislation so future generations can continue to learn about these pivotal times in American history.”

“With the passage of the Brown v. Board National Historic Site Expansion Act to designate all of the sites associated with this monumental Supreme Court case, history is not just memorialized but also made whole,” said Paul Edmondson, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “At the National Trust, we have been diligently working to reveal and amplify a more complete view of our national history and we’re pleased to have partnered with Senator Coons and Congressman Clyburn in this important work. The heroism of the communities, parents and schoolchildren who dared to demand equal access to education can now be properly celebrated through these historic places.”

“This preservation process reveals how all history is truly made,” said Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. “So often it takes more than one great man, woman or even a single community to create change, despite the way the stories of history are often recounted. Actually, it requires many ‘ordinary people with extraordinary vision’ to move a society forward. We applaud those courageous attorneys, families, and activists, some known and others unknown, who put so much at risk to secure educational equality for all Americans. Thanks to our preservation partners, the full history of this landmark case will forever be memorialized and interpreted to inspire the next generation of social justice leaders.”

The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was described by constitutional scholar Louis H. Pollak as “probably the most important American government act of any kind since the Emancipation Proclamation.” The Brown decision transformed the United States, striking down the separate-but-equal doctrine established byPlessy v. Ferguson in 1896. The Plessy decision was the linchpin that condoned and entrenched legalized segregation across the South, despite protections clearly stated in the U.S. Constitution and underscored by the 14th and 15th Amendments.

These laws stayed in placed for nearly 100 years after Reconstruction, but pioneering civil rights lawyers like Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, William Hastie, Constance Baker Motley, Louis Lorenzo Redding, and others challenged the constitutionality of segregation and won. The Brown decision ended the practice of legalized segregation in educational facilities and was a major catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.

The history of Brown v. Board of Education is represented in our national consciousness by a single building, Monroe School, which is a National Historic Site located in Topeka, Kansas. This limited geographic scope condenses public memory of these events and inadvertently fails to recognize the contributions of the other communities in Claymont, Delaware; Hockessin, Delaware; Wilmington, Delaware; Summerton, South Carolina; Farmville, Virginia; and the District of Columbia that were also important to the fight for equality and that saw their cases consolidated with the Brown case. The geographic dispersion of these locations demonstrates that Brown v. Board of Education is truly a story of a national struggle with national significance.

“Recognizing Hockessin Colored School #107 as an affiliated area of the National Park System is a fitting tribute to Delaware’s unique role in the Brown decision,” said the Honorable Collins J. Seitz, Jr., Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. “Of the five cases appealed in Brown, the Delaware decision in Belton v. Gebhart – requiring the immediate admission of African American students to schools attended by white children – was the only appeal affirmed by the Supreme Court.”

“The family of Louis L. Redding commends the preservation of these historic schools as reminders of the hard-won rights of African Americans to equal access in education,” said JB Redding, on behalf of the family of Louis L. Redding, Delaware’s first Black attorney and the lawyer who argued the Delaware school desegregation cases. “Further, their existence serves as a reminder that the struggle for full implementation of these rights continues.”

“With the path to the infamous Brown v. Board of Education beginning its genesis in Summerton, South Carolina, with the Briggs v. Elliott case, the Clarendon School District One’s Board of Trustees and residents of the local community are humbled and honored to have two historic facilities entrusted to the National Park Service,” said former Superintendent Barbara Champagne of Clarendon County, South Carolina. “The designation of the Summerton School and the Scott’s Branch School is steeped in the authentic American story of the journey for equality and equity. The voices of those courageous men and women who were given the vision for better opportunities and for equitable resources will not remain silent or forgotten. Instead, their voices will echo through the annals of history as a reminder of what can be achieved through determination, perseverance, and faith.”

“The Robert R. Moton Museum is excited to join with communities involved in the historic Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision. In seeking to become an affiliated area of the National Park Service, we know this affiliation will allow us the opportunity to better collaborate with other communities involved in the historic Brown decision as we work to ensure that countless individuals have the opportunity to know of the courage and sacrifice that citizens made towards equality in education,” said Cameron D. Patterson, Executive Director of the Robert R. Moton Museum in Farmville, Virginia. “The Moton Museum Board of Trustees, Moton Museum Community Council, and our partner institution Longwood University in offering their support towards this effort, recognize that the resources and benefits offered from this affiliation with the National Park Service will only strengthen our ability to fulfill our mission as a museum.”

The creation of NPS Affiliated Areas in Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for sites associated with the Brown v. Board of Education case and an expansion of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site to include the related sites in South Carolina provides an opportunity for these sites to tell their own uplifting, under-recognized stories of students, parents, and their allies who helped shape American society. 

Enactment of this legislation has the potential to appropriately recognize the sites associated with the other four court cases and help them to combine current uses with preservation and public education.  In collaboration with local partners and other stakeholders, the National Trust will continue their collective work to bring recognition to communities that fought for school integration, helping these sites to tell their own history of the Brown v. Board of Education case and make connections to other communities engaged in the fight for educational equity, past and present.

The bill text is available here. 

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places. Visit http://www.savingplaces.org

About the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is a multi-year initiative led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in partnership with the Ford Foundation, the JPB Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and other partners, working to make an important and lasting contribution to our cultural landscape by elevating the stories and places of African American achievement and activism. Visit https://savingplaces.org/african-american-cultural-heritage#.Yk7zH5DMInc

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Senator Coons delivers remarks at Notre Dame symposium, emphasizes need for international COVID funding

WASHINGTON – Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) delivered remarks tonight at the Notre Dame symposium titled Insight & Outlook on National and Global Affairs. In his remarks, Senator Coons made the case for building momentum and support for a global emergency funding package with robust funding to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and for global food aid. He also discussed bipartisanship in foreign policy, the importance of defending democracy around the world, and the conflict in Ukraine.

Said Senator Coons, “We are as divided as we’ve been in my adult lifetime. The last two presidential elections, the last four Supreme Court confirmations, the ways in which we are having difficulty hearing and respecting each other, it makes the daily work of crafting and passing legislation harder than ever. I’m having a particularly tough time today because we just tried unsuccessfully to pass a COVID supplemental that would provide funding for the rest of the world. I made the argument until I was blue in the face to colleagues that we have millions of lifesaving vaccines that are going to expire. We have a unique opportunity to show dozens of countries that are relying today on Chinese or Russian vaccines that are ineffective against Omicron, and that frankly, it’s in our own selfish interest. Because if we don’t vaccinate some of the 2 billion unvaccinated people around the world, the next variant will come back to us. We may be done with this pandemic, but it’s not done with us. And I have some good friends and colleagues who have been working with me on that. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina… Senator Romney of Utah, Senator Portman of Ohio. But the challenge was we couldn’t in the end count to ten in the other party to get that bill done.”

He continued, “We need to be braver about what we bring to the world. Both in free speech, in civil discourse, and in the future that we can offer of prosperity and freedom. But we’re at a moment where because of some events in our own country’s recent past, the rest of the world isn’t completely confident that’s where we’re heading…I’m here to tell you that every one of you is needed and welcome in finding that path forward where we can respect each other, honor each other, and fight for democracy by stilling some of the voices in our country of division and insisting that in a moment where the whole world literally is watching, we can work together.”

He concluded, “We need a comparable, concise advocacy from the current Pentagon leadership about why it matters to fund things seemingly disconnected from national security like vaccinations or therapeutics. Right now, Ukraine, which is the breadbasket for two dozen other countries, is being ravaged by Russian aggression. A consequence of [this invasion of] the greatest source of wheat and sunflower oil for countries like Pakistan and Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt, is going to be food riots and instability. It doesn’t seem like it’s a hard defense investment to spend more on food aid or on diplomacy or on development. And there are lots of Americans who have questions about whether our development investments are well spent. I am every bit as concerned about making sure that our development dollars are spent well as you are, but they are a tiny fraction of our total federal spending, less than 1%.”

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Sen. Coons, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to help law enforcement de-escalate mental health crises

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, today joined Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and five of their colleagues in introducing the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act, bipartisan legislation to help law enforcement respond more effectively to people suffering mental or behavioral health crises. 

The bill would improve training for police officers interacting with individuals dealing with mental or behavior health issues, including using de-escalation tactics and alternatives to force as well as working with mental health professionals on crisis intervention teams. It would also empower police and the mental health professionals working with them to link individuals to mental and behavioral health services in their community.  

“Too often in communities around the country, we task police officers with responding to individuals with mental health issues in our communities without giving them the resources to provide appropriate care,” said Senator Coons, co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus. “On both sides of the aisle, we agree on the importance of improving resources for those experiencing mental or behavioral health crises in our communities. By helping to connect police officers with health providers and emergency services, this bipartisan bill would create better outcomes – both for law enforcement and for those in need of support.”

“Too often, police respond when someone is suffering a mental health or behavioral health issue, yet lack the resources they need to do so effectively. We can save lives by equipping officers to recognize and respond appropriately to those situations, to work with mental health professionals, and connect people to treatment,” said Senator Whitehouse. “I’m pleased to join with Senator Cornyn on this important bill.”

“We ask law enforcement in our communities to wear too many hats, including that of mental health provider, and they often do not have enough resources or training to provide the level of care individuals in crisis need,” said Senator Cornyn. “We must give them the necessary tools so officers feel supported while helping those experiencing mental health emergencies and other crises, and this legislation would do just that.”

Underfunded and overworked mental and behavioral health systems often leave police to confront people who urgently need mental or behavioral health care. But many police departments don’t train officers on how to deal with such situations, leading to encounters that are dangerous for all involved. 

In response, a growing number of communities have developed community intervention programs to help law enforcement address mental or behavioral health crises. These programs connect officers on the street with mental and behavioral health providers and hospital emergency services. 

In addition to protecting officers and communities, these programs reduce arrests and prison time for people in need of mental or behavioral health treatment. This is better for the individual facing mental or behavioral health challenges, and can save governments on prison costs. As the National Alliance on Mental Illness has observed, an inmate in Detroit battling mental illness costs $31,000 a year in jail, while mental health treatment costs only $10,000 a year in the community.

At a minimum, all police officers should be equipped with the skills to respond to people with mental or behavioral health issues safely and with compassion. 

To improve officer training on mental and behavioral health, and to promote community intervention programs, the Bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act would: 

• Require the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to developing curricula in the training topics, or identifying existing curricula, in consultation with law enforcement, mental health organizations, family advocacy organizations, and civil liberties groups, among other stakeholders;
• Authorize $70 million in annual grant funding for training, including scenario-based exercises and evaluative assessments; and
• Require the National Institute of Justice and the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the implementation of the program and the effect of the training, to ensure that the curricula have a tangible impact on law enforcement encounters with people in crisis, and identify possible changes that would further improve outcomes.

The bill is endorsed by the National Criminal Justice Association, National Association of Counties, American Psychological Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Counseling Association, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, American Association of Suicidology, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs’ Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists, the American Association on Health and Disability, the Lakeshore Foundation, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, the National Association for Rural Mental Health, and the Niskanen Center.

In addition to Senators Coons, Whitehouse, and Cornyn, the bill was cosponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) 

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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Coons and Tillis statement on reports of Russian war crimes in Ukraine

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, issued the following statement on reports of war crimes by the Russian military in Ukraine:

“The grotesque atrocities perpetrated by the Russian military in Bucha should shock the world’s conscience. These horrific images have not been seen on European soil since the conclusion of World War II. We already know that the mass killings of innocent civilians are not limited to Bucha and have occurred in other parts of Ukraine, and further evidence of the wreckage left behind by Russian troops is likely to emerge.

“We agree with President Biden that Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders responsible for these massacres should be tried in the Hague for their war crimes. The United States, our allies, and the United Nations all have a moral obligation to hold the Russian government accountable. We must work together to bring these crimes and Putin’s illegal and unprovoked invasion to an end.”

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