[AUDIO] ICYMI: Sens. Coons, Warnock join NPR to discuss push for transformational HBCU infrastructure investment

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) joined NPR’s All Things Considered with host Ailsa Chang to discuss the importance of boosting funding for campus infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. 

“HBCUs across our country have long been a special, a valued, and a critical pathway towards opportunity,” said Senator Coons. “One thing I’ve focused on is that roughly a third of all Black STEM graduates in the entire United States have graduated from an HBCU. And as Reverend Warnock—my colleague in the Senate—was just referencing, that’s an astonishing accomplishment that they go on to such successful careers in science and technology, given the physical limitations of the campuses. In my home state, Delaware State University in Dover, Del. has an outstanding record. They’ve recently been the lead research institution on different grants from NIH, from NSF, from NASA, and they’re doing it with under-resourced, outdated research equipment. We are both so excited about the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act and the opportunity we have here to make a generational investment in facilities.”

“There was a recent survey of some 79 HBCUs, and 70 of those HBCUs reported that more than 40% of their building space needed repair or complete replacement,” said Senator Warnock. “And this is why I’m proud to co-sponsor the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act that will give schools, like Morehouse and Fort Valley down in Fort Valley, Ga., and Savannah State and Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University – all of these schools an opportunity to renovate their campuses, to provide access to campus-wide, reliable, high-speed broadband. Can you imagine an institution of higher learning in the 21st century on the wrong side of the digital divide?”

Full audio available here. A transcript is provided below.

Ailsa Chang: There are roughly a hundred Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., and if you pool all their endowments together, the total is just $4 billion. To compare, the endowment of New York University alone is nearly $5 billion. This disparity in educational funding has real-world consequences and is starting to show in the aging infrastructure of HBCUs across the country. My next two guests are proposing an infusion of money to fix that with the bipartisan IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. I’m joined now by the bill’s cosponsor, Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, and HBCU graduate and Democratic Senator, Raphael Warnock of Georgia. Welcome to both of you.

Sen. Coons: Thanks, Ailsa.

Sen. Warnock: Great to be with you.

Chang: Senator Warnock, I just want to start with you because you graduated from Morehouse College back in 1991. Did I get that right?

Sen. Warnock: You’re telling my age. That’s correct.

Chang: Well, how would you describe the current state of Morehouse’s historic campus right now? Like, what do you think it needs at this moment?

Sen. Warnock: Well, Morehouse College, like HBCUs all across our country—and we have nine of them in Georgia—since 1867, Morehouse, like a lot of our schools, has been punching above its weight. These schools have been doing so very much for so many people, for so little, for so long. And while that is a story that in many ways is inspiring, it is a kind of story that says, we’re going to make a way out of no way, as we say in the Black church. Yet I think it would be a mistake for us as a country to think that just because these schools have always punched above their weight, they should continue to do so, that somehow, they will continue to thrive in a 21^st century technological digital age without the much-needed resources that they deserve.

Chang: And what would you like specifically to see updated at Morehouse?

Sen. Warnock: Well, I mean, there was a recent survey of some 79 HBCUs, and 70 of those HBCUs reported that more than 40% of their building space needed repair or complete replacement. And Morehouse College is no exception to that rule. And this is why I’m proud to co-sponsor the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act that will give schools, like Morehouse and Fort Valley down in Fort Valley, Ga., and Savannah State and Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University – all of these schools an opportunity to renovate their campuses, to provide access to campus-wide, reliable, high-speed broadband. Can you imagine an institution of higher learning in the 21st century on the wrong side of the digital divide?

Chang: I know.

Warnock: That’s unconscionable.

Chang: I know.

Sen. Warnock: We can fix it, and we must.

Chang: Let me ask you, Senator Coons, in addition to what Senator Warnock is describing, what do you see as the greatest needs of HBCUs overall right now?

Sen. Coons: Well, Ailsa, HBCUs across our country have long been a special, a valued, and a critical pathway towards opportunity. One thing I’ve focused on is that roughly a third of all Black STEM graduates in the entire United States have graduated from an HBCU. And as Reverend Warnock—my colleague in the Senate—was just referencing, that’s an astonishing accomplishment that they go on to such successful careers in science and technology, given the physical limitations of the campuses. In my home state, Delaware State University in Dover, Del., has an outstanding record. They’ve recently been the lead research institution on different grants from NIH, from NSF, from NASA, and they’re doing it with under-resourced, outdated research equipment. We are both so excited about the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act and the opportunity we have here to make a generational investment in facilities.

Chang: If I may ask, let’s talk about real money now because, ideally, how much money do you think these HBCUs need from the federal government to make the kinds of improvements both of you are concerned about?

Sen. Warnock: Well, you know, even as you ask the question, I think it’s important for people to know and to recognize that HBCUs aren’t the only schools requesting aid from the federal government.

Chang: Right.

Sen. Warnock: And you shouldn’t have to underscore that point, but in today’s world, you do. They need resources that are equitable to the input that they – the impact that they’ve been making for years. They are under-resourced. They get less than their share of federal support and we’re trying to correct that.

Chang: I ask about money because earlier this year, President Biden had proposed $55 billion in funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions. But then a recent version of the $3.5 trillion spending package only included about $30 billion for that purpose. And now it looks like that spending package is going to be brought down to satisfy moderate Democrats. So how optimistic are you that the spending on HBCUs will remain part of this overall spending package as negotiations continue?

Sen. Coons: Ailsa, as this package gets slimmed down because of the more modest ambition of some of our colleagues, we are going to fight tirelessly to make sure that there are robust resources for HBCU infrastructure in this bill. As it moves from maybe $3.5 trillion to $2 trillion over 10 years, the thing that we need to focus on is the policy priorities. And as Reverend Warnock just said, HBCUs have for decades and decades been a pathway towards opportunity, a critical investment in equity in our country. We don’t mean to in any way disrespect or under-emphasize their partner institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions and tribal colleges and universities, which are also a part of this broader effort to make an investment in institutions that are historically majority-minority-serving institutions. Obviously, I would have supported President Biden’s ambitious initial number. I think it would have been a more significant and lasting investment. But we’re in an environment where hanging on to this as a piece of this bill, something that we are all working very hard in our caucus to get over the line, is important.

Chang: Do you think that your Republican colleagues will lobby on behalf of this particular funding for HBCUs, given that a lot of them oppose the Democrats’ overall proposal for this larger spending package?

Sen. Warnock: Well, at the end of the day, this Build Back Better bill will be a Democratic bill, so we’re not looking for Republican votes on this. But let me point out that we have gotten some bipartisan work done in the score, on that score. Earlier this year, we passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act—which leaned in on R&D—the recognition that we need to position our country to compete in the geopolitical space with a rising China. We can’t do that without all of our people, and so we made sure there was $750 million in that bill to shore up research activities at our HBCUs. But there’s a lot more work to do. And I guess what I’m saying is, we will fight—I certainly will as an HBCU graduate—to get as many resources as we can for research, for infrastructure in the reconciliation bill. But that’s not the only bite at the apple we get. We’ll continue to build on this effort.

Chang: That’s Democratic Senators Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Chris Coons of Delaware. Thanks very much to both of you.

###

Sens. Coons, Wicker, Kaine, Boozman introduce legislation to address global malnutrition

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act, which authorizes USAID to scale up its coordination and efforts to address global malnutrition. While malnutrition is almost entirely preventable, statistics show that each year, there are 2.6 million childhood deaths worldwide and approximately 150 million children with stunted development because they do not have adequate nutrition. The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act will bolster the federal government’s efforts to address this issue, particularly as the world continues to respond and recover from COVID-19.

“Malnutrition leads to lifelong developmental challenges for hundreds of millions of individuals around the world and the death of millions each year,” said Senator Coons. “COVID-19 has further underscored the need for continued U.S. leadership in addressing access to nutritious food around the world. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am pleased to introduce the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act, which will improve coordination and ensure that our nation’s global nutrition programs are effective at assisting families around the world.” 

“Malnutrition is one of the world’s greatest burdens on public health. It affects millions of people per year, especially pregnant women and children under five,” Senator Wicker said. “This bill would help save lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable by instituting precise and targeted reforms at USAID in its fight against global malnutrition. I am grateful for the bipartisan support of American global leadership in this measure.  I urge the Senate to act quickly for this bill’s passage.”

“Far too many children go hungry in the U.S. and across the globe, an issue that has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Kaine. “I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan Global Nutrition Prevention and Treatment Act to better identify and help the children most in need. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, I will continue working on ways to address malnutrition and food insecurity to improve the lives of children in the U.S. and around the world.”

“A lack of adequate, nutritious food can harm the development of young children and lead to greater health issues as they grow up, but the U.S. is in a good position to help. This bill aims to prevent and treat malnutrition by focusing our global nutrition efforts on the most effective solutions and improving coordination with our global partners so we can get assistance to the children and families who need it most,” said Senator Boozman.

The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act:

• Authorizes the USAID administrator to scale up the prevention and treatment of global malnutrition and coordinate with relevant public and private partners on these efforts;
• Directs the USAID administrator to select priority countries that would receive prioritized nutrition assistance;
• Establishes clear goals for increasing coverage of high-impact, evidence-based interventions in priority countries;
• Establishes the Nutrition Leadership Council to coordinate USAID’s efforts on preventing and treating malnutrition, with representatives from relevant inter- and intra-agency offices;
• Directs USAID to develop and submit an implementation plan to prevent and treat global malnutrition; and
• Requires USAID to submit an annual report to Congress on the progress made towards preventing and treating global malnutrition.

The bill is endorsed by 1,000 Days, Action Against Hunger, Alliance to End Hunger, Bread for the World, CARE, Farm Journal Foundation, Food for the Hungry, Global Health Council, HarvestPlus, Hellen Keller International, InterAction, ONE Campaign, RESULTS, Save the Children, UNICEF USA, and World Vision US.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###

Sens. Carper, Coons urge DHS and USCIS to waive humanitarian parole application fees for Afghan nationals

WILMINGTON, Del. — Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and 23 other Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Jaddou urging them to implement a blanket waiver on fees for Afghan nationals applying for humanitarian parole to come to the United States. The letter also requests that the agencies issue guidance to provide clarity on the current status of these types of applications.

Afghans applying for humanitarian parole from outside of the United States must currently pay $575 to have their application processed by the Department of Homeland Security. For many Afghans applying for this status, these costs are a prohibitive barrier in the application process.

“Given the extreme financial hardship and immediate danger facing Afghans fleeing to the United States, we urge you to implement a blanket waiver on fees for Afghans and their families when they apply for humanitarian parole into the United States, and we ask that you issue guidance for applicants and attorneys who are filing for this status,” wrote the senators.

“The burden of application fees is weighing heavily on communities here in the United States. Families and friends of Afghans who are trying to apply for humanitarian parole are shouldering payments and are being forced to make difficult financial decisions,” the senators continued. The letter also asks questions related to the number of Afghans who have applied for parole and how many have been granted waivers.

In addition to Senators Carper, Coons, Padilla, and Blumenthal, the letter was also signed by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Mayorkas and Director Jaddou:

Given the extreme financial hardship and immediate danger facing Afghans fleeing to the United States, we urge you to implement a blanket waiver on fees for Afghans and their families when they apply for humanitarian parole into the United States, and we ask that you issue guidance for applicants and attorneys who are applying for this status.

It is important to note that individuals processed as refugees are not subject to any fees, and we believe the same standard should apply to parolees from Afghanistan. However, the current fee facing Afghans who apply for humanitarian parole is $575 per applicant. Under federal regulations, the Director of USCIS holds the authority to waive fees under 8 CFR 103.7(d) which states:

“the Director of USCIS may approve and suspend exemptions from any fee required by paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section or provide that the fee may be waived for a case or specific class of cases that is not otherwise provided in this section, if the Director determines that such action would be in the public interest and the action is consistent with other applicable law.”

While we understand that an application for a waiver can be filed on an individual basis through an I-912 form, many applicants are justifiably concerned the additional filing and adjudication time will slow down the processing time and require paperwork they do not have in order to show financial hardship. In addition, if parole is authorized, a second fee for the DS-160 form of $160 must also be paid to the Department of State for a nonimmigrant visa. This means each individual attempting to be considered for humanitarian parole must pay $735 in fees to reach safety.

The burden of application fees is weighing heavily on communities here in the United States. Families and friends of Afghans who are trying to apply for humanitarian parole are shouldering payments and are being forced to make difficult financial decisions. Some have even appealed to local governments to help them cover the costs of these fees.

For these reasons, we urge you to implement a blanket waiver on fees for humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan and to expedite their applications. We also urge you to issue clear guidance so that applicants and attorneys can understand what options are available to them and if they qualify for humanitarian parole and a waiver.

In addition, we ask that you provide answers to the following questions no later than October 11, 2021:

1.     How many Afghan nationals have applied for humanitarian parole since August 1, 2021?

2.     How many humanitarian parole applications have been approved since August 1, 2021?

3.     How many requests for fee waivers were made by Afghan nationals applying for humanitarian parole since August 1, 2021?

4.     Please provide the status of those fee waiver requests including whether they have been granted, denied, or are pending review.

5.     Does USCIS plan to issue guidance on the fees associated with humanitarian parole?

6.     Has USCIS considered implementing a blanket fee waiver for Afghan humanitarian parole requests? If so, what, if any barriers, are preventing USCIS from engaging in immediate implementation?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

###

Sens. Coons, Portman recognize 25th anniversary of Radio Free Asia

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a resolution recognizing the 25^th anniversary of Radio Free Asia’s (RFA) inaugural broadcast into China and its mission to provide an independent source of news to closed societies in Asia. In the House, a similar resolution will soon be introduced by Representatives Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio).

“For the last 25 years, Radio Free Asia has served as a free speech platform for audiences living under authoritarian rule and in some of the world’s most challenging media environments,” said Senator Coons.“It has also played a vital role in documenting human rights and civil rights abuses in these countries, an important and impressive achievement considering the heightened pressure on press around the world. I am proud to reaffirm Congress’ commitment to supporting press freedom, and I look forward to seeing Radio Free Asia continue to pursue journalistic excellence and maintain its international reputation for reliable news across the continent.”

“I am pleased to sponsor this bipartisan resolution with Senator Coons, commending Radio Free Asia on its continued work in providing a free flow of information in South and East Asia,” said Senator Portman.“For the past 25 years, Radio Free Asia has delivered balanced and objective reporting to countries where freedom of the press is only an idea. Their work is critical to combating the deception and falsehoods spread by authoritarian regimes and violent non-state actors, and I appreciate their continued efforts to combat anti-democratic influences in the region.”

This resolution:

•                    Recognizes the importance of Radio Free Asia on its 25^th anniversary as an independent news organization chartered and funded by Congress with a mission to bring uncensored, accurate news to people living in closed societies in Asia;

•                    Honors the dedication and courage of the former and current journalists of Radio Free Asia in the face of threats and adversity from foreign governments and rising risks for press freedom in Asia and across the globe; and

•                    Commends the continued effectiveness and success of Radio Free Asia in its pursuit of independence and credible journalism.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

###

Sens. Coons, Booker, Durbin introduce legislation funding mental health services for communities impacted by gun violence

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the Preventing and Addressing Trauma with Health Services (PATHS) Act to fund mental health services for individuals impacted by gun violence. Gun violence kills nearly 40,000 people each year in the United States, and Black and Hispanic communities are disproportionately impacted. While Congress continues to work to fund community violence intervention and prevention measures, there is more work to do to help those who are processing the trauma that comes from experiencing violence in their neighborhoods. 

Exposure to gun violence can have significant detrimental mental health effects. One recent study found that children who live within two or three blocks of a shooting were significantly more likely to show up at their local emergency room with mental health-related symptoms within weeks. Other research suggests that exposure to violent events can cause trauma and lasting impacts to the nervous system in both children and adults, resulting in health and behavioral impacts like increased rates of anxiety, withdrawal, anger, depression, stress, and impulse control. To address this, the PATHS Act would authorize $100 million annually over the next five years for grants to eligible organizations to increase access to evidence-based and trauma-informed mental health services in communities with high levels of gun violence.

“Gun violence has a complex web of causes and impacts, and our communities can only begin to heal from its consequences if we prioritize and invest in mental health services,” said Senator Coons. “As Congress continues to work to prevent gun violence and address its root causes, we have an obligation to consider how best to support those traumatized by community violence. With this legislation, we can uplift members of our communities living with violence, trauma, and adverse conditions in their homes and neighborhoods, and begin to help these individuals heal.”

“As we address the need for quality, common-sense gun safety measures, it’s imperative that we also provide the support and mental health services to individuals who have been exposed to traumatic gun violence experiences,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to cosponsor this legislation with Senator Coons and Senator Durbin that will help heal communities and confront the epidemic of everyday gun violence that is ravaging communities across the country – particularly communities of color.”

“Gun violence can inflict both physical and emotional wounds that impact children and adults for a lifetime. Mental health services are a critical tool to support those who have experienced this pain and break the cycle of violence,” said Senator Durbin. “This legislation will build upon our efforts to ensure that trauma-informed mental health services are within reach for communities experiencing too many shootings.”

“Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, our Delaware communities have suffered a from gun violence epidemic, resulting in immense individual and community trauma. Community-based organizations, like the Center for Structural Equity, work to heal individuals and communities from that trauma. We applaud Senators Coons, Booker, and Durbin for introducing the PATHS Act and advocating for long-term funding to increase access to mental and behavioral health supports in areas impacted by gun violence,” said Alisia Drew, Director of Operations of the Center of Structural Equity. 

“The American Psychological Association commends Senators Coons, Booker, and Durbin for introducing the Preventing and Addressing Trauma with Health Services Act to address the ongoing struggles that many communities face in the aftermath of violence,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of The American Psychological Association. “This bill marks an important step forward in investing the resources necessary to increase access to trauma support and mental health services that so many individuals impacted by violence need. APA Services, Inc. endorses the PATHS Act and urges Congress to swiftly pass this vital legislation.”

“We appreciate Sen. Coons’ commitment to comprehensively addressing the effects of violence on impacted communities,” said ChristianaCare President and CEO Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH. “Violence is a public health epidemic that we, as health care providers, must address directly, though programs like ChristianaCare’s EVOLV hospital-based violence intervention program and our collaborative co-responder model with the New Castle County Police Department, which provides mental health outreach to the community. The PATHS Act will provide much-needed resources in support of innovative programs that meet a wide range of behavioral health needs for Delawareans.”

“Our Black and Brown communities are plagued with trauma, lack of resources, and access to mental health services. We have Delaware residents who risk exposure to gun violence every day who are overlooked and under-supported,” said Crysta Harris, Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health and Founder of the Black & Brown Delaware Therapists Directory. “The Black Brown Delaware Therapists Directory was designed to solve a problem – to connect culturally competent mental health providers to the communities most impacted. We are grateful for Senator Coons, Booker, and Durbin recognizing the need for community support, specifically communities impacted by gun violence as the nation sees higher rates, and are hopeful that the PATHS Act will allow our residents to heal and prioritize their mental health.”

There is no one solution to combat gun violence in communities across the country, and tackling this epidemic requires bold investments in a broad range of solutions. That is why Senators Coons, Booker, and Durbin each support Sen. Booker’s Break the Cycle Violence Act, which would invest $5 billion in community violence intervention efforts, as well as Sen. Durbin’s Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion (RISE) from Trauma Act, which would expand support for children who have experienced trauma from community violence. Together, these efforts will help prevent violence in our communities and prioritize addressing the negative health outcomes associated with gun violence.

The PATHS Act would:

• Establish and maintain culturally competent mental health services;
• Hire, retain, and train service providers; 
• Develop strategies and projects to enhance access to care; 
• Partner with other eligible entities to increase access to services; and 
• Build public education about the availability of services and to reduce the stigma around receiving mental health support. 

The bill is endorsed by the American Psychological Association, Everytown for Gun Safety, the Community Justice Action Fund, ChristianaCare, and the Center for Structural Equity. 

###

[VIDEO] Sen. Coons introduces Gov. Jack Markell and Sen. Flake at Senate confirmation hearing

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced President Joe Biden’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, his friend of 32 years. Senator Coons also introduced his friend and former colleague Senator Jeff Flake, who is nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to Turkey.

Senator Coons highlighted Governor Markell’s “remarkable record of achievement – of creating opportunity, of not just talking the talk, but of taking effective action.” He expressed his gratitude for Markell’s two decades of public service during which “he led innovative financial literacy and banking access initiatives, managed a severe fiscal crisis that affected our whole country, but did so responsibly in Delaware, helped grow our local economy, and showed real vision in creating new opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities” and “helped create Pathways to Prosperity in the state of Delaware.”

“A dedicated and capable public servant with the experience, intelligence, and character to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the OECD, I look forward to supporting him, not just in his nomination, but in his service, and urge my colleagues to do the same,” Senator Coons said of Governor Markell.

In his introduction of Senator Flake, Coons said, “Senator Flake has long championed American leadership around the world by promoting the rule of law, protecting human rights, and through strong international agreements. And his deep sense of right and wrong hasn’t wavered. I am confident that his commitment and character, thoughtfulness and skills will serve him well in a very demanding post as ambassador to Turkey, where his abilities will be greatly needed to navigate difficult security issues, and one where his service will reinforce the importance of bipartisanship in foreign policy.”

Full audio and video of the Senator’s introduction available here. A transcript is provided below.

Sen. Coons: Thank you very much, Chairman Menendez, Ranking Member Risch. Before proceeding with more detailed introductions, I ask unanimous consent to add a statement from my predecessor, former Senator Ted Kaufman, a detailed statement of introduction in support of Mark Gitenstein to serve as U.S. ambassador to the EU. And I join Senator Kaufman in urging support for Mark Gitenstein, who I know will be a very capable and experienced ambassador – his second term of service as an ambassador to now an entire region so critical to all of us.

I’ve known Jack and his wonderful wife Carla for 32 years. In Delaware, we pride ourselves on being able to work together. We’re a state of neighbors, a state that cares about solving problems and doing the right thing, and no one epitomizes that more than our former governor and state treasurer, Jack Markell. As state treasurer for ten years, governor for eight years, Jack’s been guided by strong values and a sharp intellect. His passion for helping others is rooted in his faith, and strengthened when, at age 17, he had a chance to travel to India and to see profound inequality and deep poverty.

And in the decades since, he has built a remarkable record of achievement – of creating opportunity, of not just talking the talk, but of taking effective action. Across two decades in leadership, he led innovative financial literacy and banking access initiatives, managed a severe fiscal crisis that affected our whole country, but did so responsibly in Delaware, helped grow our local economy, and showed real vision in creating new opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. He helped create Pathways to Prosperity in the state of Delaware, a national model for helping workplace experience and college credit opportunities for young people, and launched one of the best language immersion programs in kindergarten.

He has a deep understanding of the private sector and economic development. He has an MBA from the University of Chicago, and helped launch and create the telecom company, Nextel, a company now valued at $35 billion. So he understands both how to solve complex problems, and how the United States can work with our OECD partners to put in place policies to create conditions for economic growth. He led both the Democratic Governors Association and the National Governors Association, and today he is leading Operation Allies Welcome – the resettlement of thousands of the Afghan partners who served alongside us in our 20 years of conflict.

A dedicated and capable public servant with the experience, intelligence, and character to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the OECD, I look forward to supporting him, not just in his nomination, but in his service, and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Now, Mr. Chairman, if I might, I’m also honored to introduce my friend and our former colleague, Senator Jeff Flake. 

Senator Flake, to be clear, is a conservative Republican from Arizona, and I am a Democrat from Delaware. In the six years we served alongside each other, we voted on the opposite way of virtually every vote we ever took in the Senate. But during those six years, I came to know Jeff as an honorable man, as a principled public servant, as a patriotic American, and a loyal friend. We traveled together to more than a dozen countries: West Africa, East Africa, northern Europe. We had the bonding moment of both being chased by elephants in Mozambique.

We worked together on legislation to protect wildlife from trafficking, to protect the rule of law on the Judiciary Committee, to promote free and fair elections and economic reforms in Zimbabwe, where he did his mission service.

Senator Flake has long championed American leadership around the world by promoting the rule of law, protecting human rights, and through strong international agreements. And his deep sense of right and wrong hasn’t wavered. I am confident that his commitment and character, thoughtfulness and skills will serve him well in a very demanding post as ambassador to Turkey, where his abilities will be greatly needed to navigate difficult security issues, and one where his service will reinforce the importance of bipartisanship in foreign policy. I know he will be even more successful with his amazing wife, Cheryl, by his side, and I look forward to supporting Senator Flake’s nomination and encourage my colleagues to do so as well.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

###

Coons, Cornyn bill to expand federal expungement approved by key Senate Committee

[PHOTOS] Sens. Coons, Warnock, Blunt, Graham host Isakson’s bipartisan Senate BBQ to build cross-aisle relationships

Former Sen. Isakson first created the bipartisan BBQ to bridge partisan divides in Senate chamber

To download photos, click here.

WASHINGTON — This afternoon, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) co-hosted “Senator Johnny Isakson’s Bipartisan Barbecue,” a Senators-only event to facilitate conversations across the aisle within the chamber.

Once per year—in place of the regularly scheduled Democratic and Republican caucus lunches—Senator Isakson, a Republican from Georgia who served in the Senate from 2005 to 2019, brought together Democrats and Republicans to enjoy barbecue from his home state. Today’s event represents a continuation of this tradition, the first such event since Senator Isakson’s retirement, with barbecue provided by South 40 Smokehouse in Marietta, Georgia.

“Senator Isakson always strived to bring people together, and he was often the glue between senators working to get important legislation moving,” said Senator Coons. “Barbecue isn’t magic, but coming together for a meal can help facilitate some important conversations and build new relationships. We cannot stop trying to hear each other and work out our differences – that’s why we’re relaunching the bipartisan barbecue in Johnny Isakson’s honor.”

“It is an honor to help to carry on this rich tradition started by Senator Johnny Isakson, one of Georgia’s most esteemed leaders,” said Senator Warnock. “As my colleagues and I enjoy some barbecue—brought to the Capitol from the great state of Georgia—we celebrate Senator Isakson, my predecessor in the Senate, and his tireless commitment to bipartisanship in an effort to move legislation through this body that helps people, despite party and policy differences.”

“Senator Johnny Isakson is famous in Georgia and Washington for his ability to make new friends and keep old friends,” said Senator Blunt. “There is no better way to honor his mark on the Senate than to carry on this bipartisan – and delicious – tradition. The Members of the Senate may not always see eye to eye, but we should always find ways to work together for the people we serve, just as Johnny always did.”

“I’m excited to continue the Johnny Isakson tradition of having a bipartisan barbeque with Senators Coons, Blunt, and Warnock,” said Senator Graham. “Our country is very divided, and Congress is no different. However, being from the great state of South Carolina, I understand the magic of barbeque is unlimited. This is a good start to helping heal a fractured Congress and honoring our great colleague Senator Isakson.”

###

Senator Coons cosponsors bipartisan bill to protect thousands of ‘documented dreamers’

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently introduced the America’s Children Act along with Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The bipartisan bill will provide a pathway to citizenship for “Documented Dreamers,” children of long-term visa holders who have been waiting for years, and often decades, for a green card. These Documented Dreamers face deportation if they age out of dependent status at 21 without a green card or other immigration status. 

“‘Documented Dreamers’ are Americans in every sense besides legal status, and Congress should protect them and provide a secure pathway to their citizenship,” said Senator Coons. “I am proud to come together with my colleagues to end the cruel and pointless practice of ‘aging out’ in our immigration laws, which deprives America of these individuals’ contributions and forces them to a country they may not even know.  It is commonsense measures like these that we can and must work together on to reform our broken immigration system.”

“We cannot turn our backs on the ‘Documented Dreamers’ who have spent most of their lives in this country, contributing to their communities and our economy but face continued uncertainty and risk deportation once they turn 21,” said Senator Padilla. “These young people deserve the opportunity to pursue their American dream and continue building lives in the country they call home.”

“These children who have legally called the United States home for many years and even decades, are contributing members in our communities and to our economy. They shouldn’t be penalized by the government’s failures in addressing green card backlogs,” said Dr. Paul. “The America’s Children Act provides targeted relief for these children of merit-based immigrants who are at risk of “aging out” of their lawful immigration status, and I’m pleased to join Sen. Padilla in introducing this bill.”

This bill is also cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) previously introduced this legislation in the House.

“Children of long-term visa holders risk aging out and losing their immigration status as it is often tied to their parents’ status. These children unfairly lose their opportunity to secure lawful permanent residence and face the risk of deportation despite growing up in the U.S.,” said Senator Durbin. “I’m proud to cosponsor the America’s Children Act to provide these immigrants with the security they need so that they can continue to live fulfilling lives here in the U.S.”

“Our legislation would protect ‘Documented Dreamers’ who were brought to the United States legally as children and know no other country as their home,” said Senator Collins.  “It makes no sense that children of long-term legal immigrants, who have been raised and educated in America, can be forced to self-deport even as their parents and other family members are permitted to remain in this country.  This would be a vast improvement to our legal immigration system and ensure the children of legal immigrants can continue to contribute to their communities and the economy.”

“My community in North Carolina is one of many across the country that has flourished because of immigrant workers, who spend years growing our economy and raising their children as Americans,” said Representative Ross. “It is unconscionable that when these children, known as Documented Dreamers, reach the age of 21, they can be forced to self-deport to countries they might not even remember, splitting their families apart. I’m grateful to my colleagues Senators Padilla and Paul for joining me in leading this vital legislation to keep our nation strong and competitive by ensuring Documented Dreamers have access to the American Dream.”

“Members of Improve The Dream are extremely grateful for the Senate’s introduction of the America’s Children Act. This legislation puts in place a policy that most Americans assume already exists by permanently ending aging out and providing a mechanism for a pathway to citizenship for every child who has grown up in the United States with a documented status. For too long, young immigrants like us, who have been raised and educated here as Americans, have been forced to leave the country we call home. Over 200,000 Documented Dreamers who had felt hopeless now have hope for being recognized as something we have long felt: Americans. We are America’s Children and this bill will recognize us as such,” said Dip Patel, President of Improve The Dream. “Thank you Senators Padilla, Paul, Coons, Collins, and Durbin for championing this cause in the Senate. The America’s Children Act will improve the dream for all children of long-term visa holders and allow us to fully contribute our skills to this country.”

Over 200,000 children and young adults are living in the United States as dependents of long-term nonimmigrant visa holders (including H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 workers). These young people grow up in the United States, but their dependent visas expire at age 21, forcing many of them to self-deport to countries they might not even remember.

The H-4 and L-2 visas, which are the visas issued to dependents of H-1B and L-1 workers, are limited to dependent spouses and dependent children under 21 years of age. While H-1B and L-1 workers and their children can eventually obtain green cards, they often end up stuck in a decades-long backlog. Meanwhile, the children of E-1 and E-2 visa holders have no pathway to permanent residency. If they are unable to change temporary status when they turn 21 and age out of their dependent visas, these young adults face the choice of remaining in the United States without status or returning to their country of birth alone.

The America’s Children Act:

• Provides a pathway to permanent residency for individuals who were brought to the United States as dependent children of workers admitted under approved employer petitions, have maintained status in the United States for 10 years (including four years as a dependent), and have graduated from an institution of higher education;

• Establishes age-out protections that lock in a child’s age on the date on which they file for a green card rather than the final action date; and

• Provides work authorization for Documented Dreamers over the age of 16 whose green card applications are pending.

###

Coons, Menendez on POTUS’ Executive Order sanctioning perpetrators of human rights abuses in Tigray conflict

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following joint statement announcing new forthcoming legislation regarding Ethiopia’s civil war after President Biden unveiled a new Executive Order to sanction parties to the conflict in Tigray that are responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuse in northern Ethiopia, deliberate targeting of civilians in the course of the conflict, obstructing humanitarian aid to northern Ethiopia or targeting United Nations or African Union personnel, or actions or policies that undermine democracy or the territorial integrity of Ethiopia.

“As we close in on a year of conflict in Ethiopia the situation continues to spiral out of control. The scale and nature of the abuses in Tigray and neighboring regions is staggering and we fully support President Biden’s focus on this crisis, including today’s Executive Order. The international community cannot afford to look away from the growing body of evidence out of the Tigray region documenting mass rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war, massacres, extrajudicial killings, murder of aid workers, and a blockade of humanitarian goods which continue to expose some of the worst consequences of a brutal war with no clear military solution.

“Continuing human rights abuses by the parties to the conflict in Ethiopia warrant an unequivocal response: We will not tolerate war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic violence. In that vein, we will unveil a new legislative effort in the coming weeks for Congress to drastically bolster U.S. efforts to pursue accountability for the carnage in the Tigray region as this protracted ethnic conflict approaches the one year mark. It is our hope that this effort will help galvanize a political process to help stabilize Ethiopia. In advance of this tragic milestone, we once again call upon all parties to reach a negotiated ceasefire, pursue dialogue, and reach an agreement that ultimately results in a democratic, prosperous, and peaceful Ethiopia.”

###