ACT for ALS Act unanimously passes Senate, heads to President Biden for his signature

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.). The bipartisan, bicameral bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The ACT for ALS Act would fund essential research into fast-progressing rare neurodegenerative and terminal diseases, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and early access to promising investigational therapies for patients suffering from them and would authorize $100 million annually to implement these priorities.

ALS affects 1 in 300 people, often leaving patients with no more than three years to live following their diagnosis, and disproportionately impacts U.S. military service members. ACT for ALS authorizes new grants to support expanded access and research programs. This expansion will bring investigational treatments for rapidly progressing diseases beyond their ongoing clinical trials to patients with diseases for which effective therapies don’t already exist and allow for additional research into the effectiveness of those interventions. It also creates a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Rare Neurodegenerative Disease Grant Program to support other research and development on ALS and other life-threatening or severely debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.

“Tonight, because of the tireless work of so many ALS advocates, the Senate unanimously passed the ACT for ALS Act and sent it to President Biden’s desk,” said Senator Coons. “Thanks to this legislation and the crucial research into ALS it will fund, countless Americans and their families who face down this cruel disease every day can go to sleep tonight with a renewed sense of hope. I am grateful to Senator Murkowski and Representatives Quigley and Fortenberry for their partnership on this landmark bill.”

“This is all about hope. The ACT for ALS Act will make a meaningful difference for individuals and families across the country. Passage of this bill today is a hard-earned win for the ALS community and provides much-deserved hope to all who are affected by this disease,” said Senator Murkowski. “As someone whose family has been impacted by ALS, I know how terrible this disease is and how tirelessly the ALS community continues to fight for legislation to improve treatments and quality of life and search for a cure. This bill now heading to the President’s desk is huge step forward. It will offer new hope for those who are most in need, those who today—tragically—have very few options for treatment.”

“I am thrilled that the Senate has passed ACT for ALS and officially cleared the way for this life-saving, transformative legislation to be signed into law. For too long, the diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease like ALS has been a death sentence that included the devastating hopelessness of no effective treatment options. ACT for ALS will finally help people living with this cruel disease access promising treatments and create the research infrastructure that could put a cure within reach,” said Representative Quigley. “I am deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication of the Senate co-leads Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Murkowski and of my House co-lead Congressman Fortenberry. But, above all, I am grateful for the tireless advocacy of an entire community who has made the dream of this accomplishment a reality.”

“In a true Christmas miracle, tonight the U.S. Senate gave real hope to those suffering from the cruel, merciless disease of ALS. For over 50 years and over 50 clinical trials, ALS patients have submitted themselves to tests and trials, therapies and placebos, in accordance with the rules of the current health care policy framework. But progress has been uneven, even debatable, with serious impediments to promising new treatments. Many ALS patients have sacrificed their lives to science, as they gradually weakened and died. Tonight, this Congress advanced a new way,” said Representative Fortenberry. “ACT for ALS represents a monumental shift for those suffering from ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions. The bill does two main things: it transforms the paradigm of disease research and regulation and creates a new pathway to promising new treatments. It drives the hope. With this transformative piece of public policy, we can break through faster for those who have suffered so much. I am deeply grateful to Representative Quigley and Senators Coons and Murkowski for their partnership on this groundbreaking legislation.”

“For one hundred and sixty years, there has been no hope for those diagnosed with ALS. That changed tonight. Tonight, as a result of tens of thousands of ALS advocates working nonstop to make their voices heard and demanding the chance to live, hope has finally come to people living with ALS,” said Brian Wallach, co-founder of I AM ALS. “Thanks to the relentless work of Senators Coons and Murkowski as well as Representatives Quigley and Fortenberry, ACT for ALS has now passed both the House and the Senate and is on its way to President Biden. This moment was supposed to be impossible. The ALS community, however, refused to give up. So today, we celebrate the impossible becoming real and a new chapter for the fight against ALS.”

“ACT for ALS will directly impact the lives of people with ALS by providing expanded access to investigational drugs and funding new research at FDA to find treatments and cures that are urgently needed. Thank you to people with ALS and their families, ALS advocates, and to Congress for passing this historic bill,” said Calaneet Balas, President and CEO, The ALS Association.

“The Muscular Dystrophy Association is incredibly grateful for our champions, Senators Coons and Murkowski as well as Congressmen Quigley and Fortenberry, for every Senator who prioritized the ALS and rare neurodegenerative disease communities by passing the ACT for ALS tonight, and for all patient advocates who spent countless hours pushing for this bill,” said Paul Melmeyer, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at MDA.“With tonight’s vote, this legislation, which could substantially increase access to promising therapies and advance drug development in rare neurodegenerative diseases, needs only President Biden’s signature to make this a reality.”

###

[VIDEO] Delaware’s senators continue to press Republicans to end obstruction and confirm Gov. Markell, other key overseas posts

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chair of the Senate State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Appropriations Subcommittee, and Tom Carper (both D-Del.) both spoke on the Senate floor yesterday and pushed to end Senate Republicans’ obstruction of several of President Biden’s foreign policy nominees, including former Delaware Governor Jack Markell.

On Wednesday afternoon, Senator Coons went to the Senate floor to make a live Unanimous Consent request – a move to secure Senate confirmation for the postings – on twelve nominees, including Governor Markell, nominee for U.S. Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and University of Delaware graduate Steve Bondy, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain. The request was rejected by U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), leaving the positions unfilled.  

As of today, 61 nominees for the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and several multilateral development banks have had their confirmation blocked by Republicans on the Senate floor, despite receiving approval from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This obstruction leaves critical diplomatic, humanitarian, and national security positions unfilled at a time of the utmost national need and includes the U.S. Ambassadorships to China and Japan.

Senators Coons and Carper both spoke on the Senate floor to spotlight this backlog of Senate confirmations due to Republican obstruction.

“At a time when we need senior people to help our country deter adversaries, advance our interests, and secure our values, it is important that all the nominees currently waiting on this floor be confirmed. […] These national security issues are important, and this chamber owes to the American people robust debate, but we also need to provide advice and consent on any president’s nominees in a purposeful and timely manner,” said Senator Coons. “I’ve appreciated the opportunity to dialogue with colleagues about a possible path forward, but as of right now, we don’t have one, so I’m seeking this Unanimous Consent. Principal among the many nominees is my dear friend, Jack Markell.”

“For the last four years, not only have we as a nation withdrawn from our seat at the international table, we’ve stopped looking outward for solutions that can boost our own. It’s been almost five years, in fact since January 20, 2017, since we had a Senate-confirmed ambassador to the OECD. Five years. Five years away from the table, our eyes closed to new solutions. That’s particularly dangerous in the wake of an economic recession,” Senator Carper said. “Right now, the OECD could use someone like Jack Markell. He’ll do a great job representing our nation, and he’s ready to go to work.”

Full audio and video of Senators Coons and Carper’s request for Senate approval of the nominees is availablehere. 

The Unanimous Consent request sought to confirm twelve of President Biden’s nominees including: Jack Markell to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; Nick Burns, to be U.S. Ambassador to China; Rahm Emanuel, to be U.S. Ambassador to Japan; Steve Bondy, to be U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain; Cynthia Telles, to be U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica; Bathsheba Nell Crocker, to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations in Geneva; Michele Sison, to be Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizational Affairs; Christopher Lu, to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform; Lisa Carty, to be U.S. Representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations; Laura Holgate, to be U.S. Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and U.S. Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency; C.S. Eliot Kang, to be Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation; and Adam Scheinman, to be Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation.

###

Delaware’s congressional delegation applauds final passage of annual defense bill

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) applauded final passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a nearly $768 billion bill funding our nation’s armed services for the 2022 fiscal year. The 61^st annual defense bill supports a 2.7 percent pay raise for both military servicemembers and the Department of Defense (DoD) civilian workforce. The bill also includes provisions critical for Delaware, including authorizing more than $17 million to replace the New Castle County Airport Fuel Cell Hangar for the Delaware Air National Guard.

“Approving the annual defense bill has always been a bipartisan priority, and I’m pleased both chambers of Congress could come together to continue that tradition and pass this year’s NDAA,” said Senator Carper. “This critical bill will support our nation’s service men and women, and their families, who make tremendous sacrifices for our country. In addition to important investments for the First State, this bill also ensures our nation’s men and women in uniform have the resources they need to keep our country and its citizens safe.”

“Our annual defense bill authorizes crucial investments in Delaware, the Department of Defense, and the people who bravely serve our country,” said Senator Coons. “This legislation will not only strengthen Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard, it will also provide our service members with the necessary tools to protect the American people and address our nation’s most pressing foreign policy and national security priorities. I’m glad Congress finally came together once again to pass this year’s NDAA on a bipartisan basis.”

“Each year, Senator Carper, Senator Coons, and I work together to secure key provisions for Delaware and the nation in the annual National Defense Authorization Act,” said Representative Blunt Rochester. “This year’s NDAA authorizes construction of a new Fuel Cell Hanger for the Delaware Air National Guard, their top priority for over a decade. It also increases pay for our brave men and women in uniform and prioritizes the health and safety of our service members by adding more measures to limit exposure to chemicals like PFAS. I’m proud of the provisions included in this bill because it will improve the lives of so many of our nation’s service members, including those that call the First State their home.”

The annual defense bill passed today includes provisions that will benefit Delawareans by:

Investing in the Health and Readiness of Delaware’s Servicemembers

·       Authorizes $17.5 million in funding to replace the New Castle County Airport Fuel Cell Hangar for the Delaware Air National Guard.

·       Requires the DoD to submit a report to Congress on efforts to remediate dangerous PFAS at Dover Air Force Base and other installations, and establishes a schedule to test water at all identified military installations and National Guard facilities.

·       Requires the DoD to test for PFAS within two years at hundreds of military installations, including formerly used defense sites and National Guard facilities where PFAS has been released.

·       Places a temporary moratorium on the unsafe incineration of firefighting foam containing PFAS and materials contaminated by PFAS until the Secretary of Defense implements the Environmental Protection Agency’s interim destruction and guidance and incineration limits included in the FY 2020 NDAA.

·       Authorizes an additional $15 million to continue to study the health exposure of defense communities affected by PFAS, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

·       Authorizes $15 million for PFAS-based firefighting foam replacement, disposal, and cleanup technology.

·       Provides $15 million for PFAS remediation and disposal technology.

Supporting Military and Civilian Personnel Workforce

·       Includes funding to support a 2.7 percent pay raise for both military servicemembers and the DOD civilian workforce.

·       Increases parental leave to 12 weeks for all servicemembers for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child, and creates a new category of bereavement leave for military personnel that would permit servicemembers to take up to two weeks of leave in connection with the death of a spouse or child.

Protecting Afghan Allies and Deterring Aggression Abroad

·       Expresses the sense of Congress about the importance of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and honors commitments to those Afghan partners, who at great personal risk, supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Directs the establishment of a multi-year independent Afghanistan War Commission to examine the war in Afghanistan.

·       Authorizes the procurement of the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system, David’s Sling Weapon System, and Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program to help defend Israel, an ally of the United States.

·       Contains multiple provisions to address the strategic challenges posed by the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide recurring briefings on efforts to deter Chinese aggression and military coercion. Robustly funds the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI).

Improving Competitiveness at Home and Bolstering Defense

·       Authorizes increased funding for CH-47F Block-II Chinook helicopters which will support hundreds of Delaware Boeing employees at Ridley Park.

·       Authorizes an increase in funds available for science and technology programs that fund cutting-edge research activities at universities, small businesses, defense labs, and industry, including in critical areas such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, advanced materials, 5G, and biotechnology.

·       Authorizes a historic $5.8 billion increase above the President’s Budget Request in funding for research, development, testing, and evaluation, including a 24.7% increase in defense-wide basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development. Makes significant new investments in academic partnerships, and more than doubles the budget request’s support for activities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities by $42.1 million.

·       Authorizes significant additional cybersecurity investments in people, programs, and technologies.

·       Prohibits reduction in the Air Force’s total C-130 aircraft inventory below 279 aircrafts, protecting the Delaware Air National Guard wing.

Caring for Servicemembers and Veterans

·       Provides better care for those affected by burn pits by requiring DOD medical providers to undergo mandatory training on the potential health effects of burn pits.

·       Addresses sexual assault in the military by criminalizing sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. All claims of sexual harassment will be required to be investigated by an independent investigator outside the chain of command.

·       Removes the Commander from decisions related to the prosecution of covered crimes including rape, sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, and kidnapping.

·       Creates an Office of the Special Trial Counsel within each Service and ensures their independence by requiring they directly report to the Service Secretary.

###

Human Rights Caucus co-chairs recognize International Human Rights Day

WILMINGTON, Del. — U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, introduced a resolution today celebrating International Human Rights Day, which marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. The Declaration was the first comprehensive agreement among countries that specified the inalienable rights and freedoms all human beings are entitled to regardless of race, sex, religion, color, political orientation, national origin, or other status.

“73 years after its adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains one of the most important documents for the advancement of rights and freedoms globally,” said Senator Coons. “This bipartisan resolution celebrates the values represented in this Declaration, which reflects our own founding documents in the United States, brings hope to millions around the world, and continues to inspire us to support and protect human rights and human rights defenders anywhere they may be.”

“I am proud to co-chair the Senate Human Rights Caucus with my friend Sen. Coons and work together to defend and promote internationally recognized human rights norms around the world,” said Senator Tillis. “I look forward to continuing to work towards advocating for and protecting human rights. Now more than ever, it is important that we take time to recognize these universal values as well as the courageous individuals who have dedicated their lives to upholding them by honoring the 73rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

The text of the resolution is available here. 

###

ACT for ALS Act passes House, cosponsored by majority of the Senate

WASHINGTON — This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.). The passage of the bill in the House comes just as the companion bill reaches 55 cosponsors in the Senate, with Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) having been the 50th and 51st co-sponsors.

This legislation would create the infrastructure necessary to fund early access to promising investigational therapies for patients suffering from fast-progressing rare neurodegenerative and terminal diseases, like ALS, and would authorize $100 million annually to implement these priorities.

ALS affects 1 in 300 people, often leaving patients with no more than three years to live following their diagnosis. ACT for ALS authorizes new grants to support expanded access and research programs. ALS also disproportionately impacts U.S. military service members. This expansion will bring investigational treatments for rapidly progressing diseases beyond their ongoing clinical trials to patients with diseases for which effective therapies don’t already exist and allow for additional research into the effectiveness of those interventions. It also creates a new FDA Rare Neurodegenerative Disease Grant Program to support other research and development on ALS and other life-threatening or severely debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.

“I’m excited to see our colleagues in the House pass this necessary legislation at the same time that we reach a critical milestone of support in the Senate,” said Senator Coons. “ACT for ALS will create critical new programs to improve coordination and collaboration on ALS, support additional research, and help more patients access promising investigational therapies.”

“The bipartisan support from the majority of my colleagues in the Senate on the ACT for ALS is great news for the ALS community,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation will address barriers to treatments for those living with ALS and will accelerate research and development of therapies for ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases. As someone whose family has been impacted by this disease, I’m proud to see this bipartisan and bicameral legislation garner large support that will bring positive impacts for Americans living with ALS.”

“ALS is a devastating disease and unfortunately right now, far too few patients are able to access treatments to slow its progression. This bipartisan bill would help address that problem by bolstering research and development of new treatments. Let’s get this passed so we can help those suffering from ALS and eventually find a cure,” said Senator Fischer. 

“With more investments in ALS therapies and research, we can make much needed progress in the fight against this disease,” said Senator Heinrich. “I’m proud to join Senator Coons and colleagues from both sides of the aisle to allocate the necessary funding for these services and provide adequate care for those affected by ALS.”

###

Sen. Coons introduces bipartisan bill to support next generation of coastal managers

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced legislation to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowships. The Coastal Fellowships Act of 2021 supports two essential programs which boost critical workforce capacity for coastal zone management programs that coastal and Great Lakes states and territories depend on to protect their communities from unique hazards. This year, the Coastal Management Fellowship celebrates its 25th anniversary, and the Digital Coast Fellowship will mark its 10th anniversary next year.

“For my home state of Delaware, the lowest-lying state in the country, coastal management resources are crucial to protecting vulnerable communities. Our state is a top recipient of NOAA fellows, and we will be receiving a new fellow next year to work on critical coastal resilience issues, like sea level rise and natural resource restoration,” said Senator Coons. “I’m glad to support the authorization and increased funding of these essential NOAA fellowship programs that bring vital expertise to coastal management projects in Delaware and many other coastal states and territories.”

“The NOAA Coastal Management and Digital Coast fellowships have provided opportunities that address the needs of coastal communities and help establish a better future for our economy and environment,” said Senator Wicker. “This legislation will ensure NOAA can continue training new fellows to assist Mississippi and other coastal states across the country. I am glad to join my colleague Senator Coons in advancing this worthy initiative.”

“Maine has thousands of miles of coastline as well as diverse ocean and intertidal ecosystems that support the livelihoods of many Maine families and are an integral part of our state’s character,” said Senator Collins. “NOAA’s fellowship programs help to keep communities strong by supporting postgraduate students’ work with states to increase coastal resilience, protect the environment, and promote a strong ocean economy. Reauthorizing these fellowships would help preserve these precious natural resources for current and future generations.”

“Rhode Island’s coasts are moving more and more into Mother Nature’s climate crosshairs,” said Senator Whitehouse. “We need to provide states with the coastal management resources necessary to protect their communities, and these NOAA fellowship programs are a smart investment in the coastal workforce.”

The Coastal Fellowships Act of 2021 will:

• Codify the NOAA Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowships;
• Authorize sufficient appropriations to fully support NOAA’s administration of the program;
• Improve benefits for fellows, including an increased stipend, addition of a locality adjustment to account for cost-of-living differences between states, and sufficient funding for professional development, work-related travel, and relocation expenses; and
• Give fellows direct hire authority to facilitate the transition from the fellowship into the federal workforce for fellows interested in joining a federal agency.

The bill is endorsed by the Coastal States Organization (CSO), The Nature Conservancy, and American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. 

“CSO strongly supports the Coastal Fellowships Act as valuable legislation to ensure the development of the next generation of coastal managers while supporting priority coastal initiatives,” said Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of the Coastal States Organization. “With growing coastal management issues including more frequent coastal storms and increasing demands on our nation’s coasts for energy development, housing, recreation and tourism, commerce, and conservation the time to invest in the future of our coasts is now. This legislation does just that.”

“The Nature Conservancy welcomes and appreciates this bipartisan proposal to promote the development of the next generation of coastal management professional,” said Stephanie Bailenson, Senior Policy Advisor for Ocean & Coasts, The Nature Conservancy. “These fellowships will provide on-the-job training for new graduates as they help communities tackle pressing challenges facing our coasts. The Conservancy has seen firsthand through its participation in these fellowship programs how they make our coastal ecosystems healthier, our communities more resilient to climate change and support robust coastal economies. We commend Senators Coons, Wicker, Collins, and Whitehouse for working across the aisle to advance this critical investment in our coasts’ future.”

Bill text is available here.

###

Coons, Portman, Klobuchar announce legislation to ensure transparency at social media platforms

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law; Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act (PATA), a new bipartisan bill that would require social media companies to provide vetted, independent researchers and the public with access to certain platform data.

While major social media companies retain granular data on their products’ impact on Americans and our communities, only a small fraction of it is ever made available to the public. Recent events, including the leak of documents as part of the “Facebook Papers,” have underscored the public value of this data and a need for legislation that increases the platforms’ transparency.

PATA would meet this need by requiring social media companies to disclose certain internal data and respond to independent research requests following the approval of researchers’ proposals by the National Science Foundation. Researchers would then be able to examine the data and release findings on the platforms’ impact to the public. Throughout the process, the data would be subject to strict protections to guard users’ privacy.

“Social media has connected the world in ways that were difficult to imagine only a decade ago, but the last few years have also made clear the tradeoffs that come with that,” said Senator Coons. “It’s increasingly clear that more transparency is needed so that the billions of people who use Facebook, Twitter, and similar platforms can fully understand the impact of those tradeoffs. This bipartisan proposal is an important step that will bring much needed information about the impact of social media companies to light and ought to be a crucial part of any comprehensive strategy that Congress can take to regulate major social media companies.”

“Every new disclosure of problematic activities by social media companies reignites calls for Congressional action,” said Senator Portman. “Before answering any of those calls, Congress should take a step back to ensure that we are not legislating in the dark. Increasing transparency around Big Tech practices will give policymakers the high-quality, well-vetted information we need to do our job most effectively. I took the same thoughtful and measured approach to the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA) to reform Section 230, which was the result of a two year investigation into the ways in which certain social media platforms facilitate the sale of children. I have a number of concerns about Big Tech—from facilitating sex trafficking to burying content about the origins of COVID-19—and I want to ensure that any response by Congress is effective in addressing those concerns.”

“Over the last several months, we’ve seen deeply concerning evidence of how social media platforms are harming our families, our communities, and our democracy,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This legislation will increase transparency, which will help us hold these companies accountable and understand what information they have on users and what they do with it. It is time for action – we cannot stand by while social media platforms continue to put profits over safety. Americans deserve to have the facts.”

“This legislation represents a critical step in opening a window onto tech and in holding the large social media platforms accountable,” said Stanford Law Professor Nate Persily. “We cannot live in a world where the platforms know everything about us and we know next to nothing about them.  We should not need to wait for whistle blowers to blow their whistles before we gain insights into the greatest problems threatening our democracy and the information ecosystem.”

Background:

PATA is a multi-pronged bill that creates new mechanisms to increase transparency around social media companies’ internal data:

• Under PATA, independent researchers would be able to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation, an independent agency designed to promote the progress of science by approving research and development proposals from researchers across the sciences. If the requests are approved, social media companies would be required to provide the necessary data subject to certain privacy protections.
  • Companies that failed to comply would be subject to enforcement from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and face the potential loss of immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.  
• Additionally, the bill would give the FTC the authority to require that platforms proactively make certain information available to researchers or the public on an ongoing basis, such as a comprehensive ad library with information about user targeting and engagement.
• The proposal would also protect researchers from legal liability that may arise from automatically collecting platform information if they comply with various privacy safeguards. 

The bipartisan group of legislators will continue to work and gather input as well as feedback from stakeholders before the bill’s formal introduction.

The text of the bill is available here. A section-by-section summary of the bill is available here.

###

Sen. Coons applauds confirmation of Biden’s nominee to lead AmeriCorps

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the National Service Congressional Caucus, released the following statement on the confirmation of Michael Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of AmeriCorps, the national service agency formally known as the Corporation for National and Community Service.

“As AmeriCorps members continue their remarkable work to help communities rebuild from this pandemic, I’m pleased to see Michael Smith take the helm with bipartisan support in the Senate. Michael brings a strong record of innovation on national service programs, and I’m confident he’ll strengthen the diverse functions of AmeriCorps, including climate resilience, hunger relief, housing support, education, and public health. This is a transformational moment for AmeriCorps and its 270,000 members, and I am eager to see how Michael will guide the program into its next chapter. I look forward to working closely with him as he takes up that important task.”

Senator Coons has long championed national service. Prior to coming to Congress, he helped launch and lead an AmeriCorps program with the “I Have A Dream” Foundation. For nearly a decade, Senator Coons served on the Delaware State Service Commission and later, as New Castle County Executive, he helped create a program to recruit volunteer firefighters in his hometown. In Congress, Coons and Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) have built the largest bipartisan coalition in a decade for a bold expansion of AmeriCorps, with the introduction of the Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery from the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act. 

In the American Rescue Plan, Senator Coons worked to secure $1 billion for AmeriCorps, nearly doubling the funding available to the agency to bolster its community-driven response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Coons has also been among the leading voices calling for the creation of the Civilian Climate Corps and strengthening of national service programs through the Build Back Better Act.

###

Sens. Coons, Graham introduce bill modernizing U.S. tools to defend democracy, calling for 25% increase in investments

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, introduced yesterday the Democracy in the 21^st Century Act to significantly increase investments to advance democracy and human rights abroad.

The bipartisan legislation authorizes an increase in U.S. global democracy assistance to over $3 billion, 25% above current levels of $2.42 billion, and creates four flexible funds to respond to emerging threats to democracy in foreign countries, particularly in the digital and technological domains. As authoritarian powers redouble their efforts to undermine and interfere in democratic processes, this bill creates a framework and new resources to counter their tactics, including disinformation, election interference, digital authoritarianism, corruption, and direct threats to independent media and civil society.

“As President Biden recommits to democracy both at home and abroad in convening the Summit for Democracy with more than 100 countries this week, I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to better equip the United States to address emerging threats and bolster resources and protections for activists defending democracy around the world,” said Senator Coons.

“We live in dangerous times, and it is more important than ever for the United States to lead the way in supporting democracy throughout the globe,” said Senator Graham. “This additional funding will counter efforts by authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, and many others that seek to cripple emerging democracies and threaten world order. Democracies resolve their disputes through the Rule of Law rather than the rule of gun. The best thing that can happen is for democracy to spread and replace radical ideology. I appreciate the work of my friend Senator Coons on this important effort.”

In addition to increasing the authorization for U.S. global democracy assistance to over $3 billion, the Democracy in the 21^st Century Act would establish four new funds to reinvigorate global democratic resources:

• Fund to Defend Democracy Globally ($20 million each for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID): to support democracy programs that bolster freedom of expression, election integrity, democratic technology use, and development assistance.
• Fund to Combat Corruption and Kleptocracy ($20 million for USAID): to support civil society, foreign governments, and the private sector in efforts to combat corruption.
• Democracy Research and Development Fund ($15 million for USAID): to support research, development, and innovation within democratic programming, with an emphasis on technology and inter-department coordination and information sharing.

A one-pager is available here. Bill text is available here. 

###

Sen. Coons on the passing of Fred Hiatt

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the passing of Washington Post editorial page editor Fred Hiatt:

“I’m shocked and saddened by the news of Fred Hiatt’s passing. He was a real leader in the media who commanded wide respect, not just for his leadership of the Post’seditorial board at a pivotal time in our nation’s history, but for his intelligence, humor, and willingness to listen that made him such enjoyable company every time I met with him. His passing is a real loss for anyone who cares about American journalism, and my thoughts are with his wife and family.”

###