Sen. Coons on $110M universal broadband investment for Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on today’s announcement by Gov. John Carney about a $110-million investment of federally-appropriated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to cover every “last mile” of Delaware with high-speed, wireline broadband internet service.

“Reliable access to high-speed internet is becoming more and more critical for success in the 21st century,” Sen. Coons said. “Today’s news will connect thousands in Delaware to broadband services. With the current challenges of COVID-19, we have particularly felt the strain associated with unreliable internet across our state. Whether it’s connecting kids to schools, seniors to doctors, or rural farmers to state-of-the-art agricultural data, this $110-million investment of federal funds will expand broadband availability, increase internet speeds, and make Delaware one of the most connected states in America.”

Coons, Warnock urge inclusion of Community Revitalization Fund in reconciliation bill

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds housing and community development programs, and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), a member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging inclusion of the $10 billion Community Revitalization Fund (CRF) in the final budget reconciliation deal.

The CRF, first proposed in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, would award federal funding directly to community-based organizations, nonprofits, and community development corporations (CDCs) that are leading collaborative, comprehensive civic infrastructure projects in distressed communities. Civic infrastructure refers to the physical spaces that support a community’s social, economic, and civic fabric. These types of civic infrastructure projects complement affordable housing investments in neighborhoods and are critical to breaking the cycle of concentrated, intergenerational poverty.

“Establishing this $10 billion Fund in the reconciliation bill would help close the gap in financing civic infrastructure projects in underserved neighborhoods across the country, advance racial equity, and support President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda,” wrote the senators.

Purpose Built Communities (PBC), a national nonprofit that helps neighborhood-based nonprofits implement a comprehensive, long-term, place-based revitalization model, is just one example of a network that could be scaled significantly through the CRF. The nonprofit was established in 2009 after the successful revitalization of the East Lake neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia. PBC has since expanded its network to 28 other neighborhood-initiatives, including one in Wilmington, Delaware called REACH Riverside.

On Tuesday, the House Financial Services Committee advanced their portion of the reconciliation bill which included $7.5 billion for a similar program called the Community Restoration and Revitalization Fund.

The full letter is available here and below. 

Dear Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Brown, and Chairwoman Waters:

Thank you for your leadership in advancing a legislative agenda that will help ensure that all Americans are included in a robust economic recovery. The reconciliation bill presents an opportunity for Congress to directly invest in the civic infrastructure of distressed neighborhoods that have faced systemic challenges. In the American Jobs Plan, President Biden proposes to make this investment through a $10 billion Community Revitalization Fund (CRF) that would “support innovative, community-led redevelopment projects that can spark new economic activity, provide services and amenities, build community wealth, and close the current gaps in access to the innovation economy for communities of color and rural communities that have suffered from years of disinvestment.” We strongly support the CRF proposal to finance civic infrastructure projects and urge you to fully fund it in the reconciliation bill.

The proposed CRF would be established as a new program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and would award planning and implementation grants directly to community-based organizations, nonprofits, and community development corporations (CDCs) that are leading comprehensive civic infrastructure projects. Community development financial institutions, philanthropic organizations, and state and local governments would serve as partners in the projects. The CRF builds on the Choice Neighborhoods program at HUD, but addresses the needs of a community beyond housing. For example, CRF grant recipients would use awards for redevelopment efforts such as restoring vacant buildings, constructing health centers and cultural spaces, and improving neglected land to create new parks and amenities. The CRF would prioritize projects that build community wealth and equity for existing residents in high-poverty census tracts and areas at risk of or experiencing rapid gentrification.

Various national networks across the country are already advancing place-based policies that could be scaled significantly through the CRF. For example, Purpose Built Communities (PBC) is a national nonprofit that helps neighborhood-based nonprofits implement a comprehensive, long-term, place-based revitalization model to break the cycle of concentrated, intergenerational, urban poverty. Seeking to create racial equity and support economic mobility and positive health outcomes for residents, these local nonprofits coordinate public and private partners’ efforts to build high-quality mixed-income housing, establish a cradle-to-college education pipeline, and create comprehensive community wellness resources. Founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 2009, the PBC Network is now comprised of 28 neighborhood-initiatives in 24 cities across the U.S.

The place-based revitalization model has been particularly impactful in our states. The model was first used in the 1990s in the East Lake Meadows neighborhood in Atlanta, an area where the crime rate was nearly 20 times the national average and the employment rate was around 13 percent. Two decades later, thanks to long-term investment led by the East Lake Foundation, children are excelling in the local school, new businesses have opened, and longtime residents are happier and healthier. In Wilmington, Delaware, REACH Riverside is using the same model to revitalize the Riverside neighborhood, a working-class neighborhood in Wilmington that has suffered years of disinvestment and impoverishment. As the 19th PBC Network Member, REACH Riverside is bringing together public and private partners to build 600 new units of high-quality, mixed-income housing, expand the local community center, improve education opportunities for students at the local charter school, and create a safe space for teens after school. 

In these cases, and many others, community organizations must cobble together various sources of public and private funding each year, which is not an efficient or sustainable method of financing large-scale, long-term projects. That is why the new CRF is a promising tool to scale the transformative activities of organizations like those in the PBC Network. Establishing this $10 billion Fund in the reconciliation bill would help close the gap in financing civic infrastructure projects in underserved neighborhoods across the country, advance racial equity, and support President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda. Thank you for your consideration of this proposal.

Sincerely,

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons questions Secretary of State Blinken on US withdrawal from Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and efforts by the Department of State to evacuate remaining Americans and Afghans at risk, ensure humanitarian access, and maintain counterterrorism capacity. 

Senator Coons opened by noting several urgent focus areas, “How do we get the remaining American citizens, legal permanent residents, and those Afghans who served alongside us or worked with and for us, and who are most at risk, out of Afghanistan? How do we make sure Afghanistan doesn’t become a safe haven for terrorists again and deal with the Taliban? What leverage do we have in doing so, and to also make sure humanitarian aid gets into Afghanistan, and most urgently, how do we support and resettle those Afghan refugees whom we’ve evacuated to third countries, and that much smaller population that has reached the United States?”

Senator Coons received commitments from Secretary Blinken regarding the State Department’s work to expand eligibility for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), including for congressionally funded media outlets such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Liberty; partners at the American University of Afghanistan; and other civil society partners across the country. Senators Coons and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) urged Blinken to expand the State Department’s interpretation of SIV eligibility to include these individuals last month.

Senator Coons also thanked the State Department and other U.S. Government personnel for their work to evacuate and repatriate U.S. Citizens and Afghans at risk: “So let me just start with my thanks to the State Department, to the employees in Kabul and Qatar, and the DC-based task force that’s worked with the evacuation and repatriation of Americans and Afghans, and to the many Delawareans and Americans, whom I’ve heard from; former military folks who served in Afghanistan, former diplomats and development professionals eager to help, and I look forward to continuing to coordinate with you and with agencies of our government, advocacy groups, and other partners on resettlement efforts. I’m glad that the former governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, has been asked to step forward and help coordinate this resettlement effort, and I was encouraged today to see Welcome.US launch a broad, multifaith, bipartisan national organization co-chaired by three former presidents, Bush and Obama and Clinton, and dozens and dozens of faith groups and nonprofits to welcome Afghans to the United States.” 

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

Sen. Coons: Thank you, Chairman Menendez, Ranking Member Risch, for this hearing, and thank you, Secretary Blinken, for your service and your testimony today. We have, I’m sure, lots of opportunities to look backward at the 20 years of our engagement in Afghanistan and its decisions, but I had hoped this committee would rise above the temptations of partisan politics and use this hearing to consider the urgent questions still before us, and I hope we’ll get a few minutes to focus on this, Mr. Secretary. 

How do we get the remaining American citizens legal permanent residents and those Afghans who served alongside us or worked with and for us, and who are most at risk, out of Afghanistan? How do we make sure Afghanistan doesn’t become a safe haven for terrorists again and deal with the Taliban? What leverage do we have in doing so, and to also make sure humanitarian aid gets into Afghanistan, and most urgently, how do we support and resettle those Afghan refugees whom we’ve evacuated to third countries, and that much smaller population that has reached the United States?

So let me just start with my thanks to the State Department, to the employees in Kabul and Qatar, and the DC-based task force that’s worked with the evacuation and repatriation of Americans and Afghans, and to the many Delawareans and Americans, whom I’ve heard from; former military folks who served in Afghanistan, former diplomats and development professionals eager to help, and I look forward to continuing to coordinate with you and with agencies of our government, advocacy groups, and other partners on resettlement efforts. I’m glad that the former governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, has been asked to step forward and help coordinate this resettlement effort, and I was encouraged today to see Welcome.US launch a broad, multifaith, bipartisan national organization co-chaired by three former presidents, Bush and Obama and Clinton, and dozens and dozens of faith groups and nonprofits to welcome Afghans to the United States. 

So let me just start with a question about visa status. Senator Sullivan and I wrote a bipartisan letter in mid-August, urging expanded eligibility for the SIV program. I’m interested in how you’re working to expand eligibility under the existing visa programs to include family members and to support those the U.S. government supported and worked alongside but who were not direct employees. I want to start if I could, Mr. Secretary, by asking you just yes or no questions about three groups that other senators have mentioned.

Secretary Blinken: Sure.

Sen. Coons: There’s about 550 employees and family members from Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty who were not evacuated. Is the [State] Department prioritizing their evacuation?

Secretary Blinken: Yes.

Sen. Coons: The department committed to evacuating our partners from NED – the National Endowment for Democracy, NDI, and IRI. Are those also being prioritized?

Secretary Blinken: Yes, they are. 

Sen. Coons: And our partners from the American University of Afghanistan as well?

Secretary Blinken: Yes. 

Sen. Coons: And so, if you would take the four minutes we’ve got left and explore with me: how do we ensure safe passage across land borders, whether into Tajikistan or Pakistan, safe and regular flights out of Afghanistan, whether from Mazar-i-Sharif or Kabul. And how do we get documents into the hands of those who don’t have identity documents, either because they were destroyed in our embassy or they destroyed them themselves out of fear of the Taliban, and how do we make sure that we’re providing the financial support needed for the whole group of refugees, who after thorough vetting ultimately reached the United States? 

Secretary Blinken: Yeah, thank you very much, Senator. Those are all very important questions, and let me try to respond briefly to them, and we can take on the details after the session if need be. First, we needed and we have established a clear expectation from the Taliban about allowing people to continue to leave the country to include American citizens, green card holders, Afghans who have or who are properly documented with a visa, including specifically those who worked in some capacity for the United States. And not only do we have that understanding and public statements by the Taliban, of course, it’s built into everything we’ve done with a large coalition of countries in terms of setting an expectation and making very clear that a failure to fulfill that expectation will have significant consequences, which we can get into. 

Second, very important actually to make sure that there are ways to travel freely from the country. We made an intensive effort, before we left, to understand and share with Qatar and Turkey, the countries that stepped up to do this, what was necessary to make sure that the airport in Kabul could continue to function, and ultimately to have charter flights, and then commercial flights going in under International Civil Aviation Organization standards. We did intensive work. We brought the American Contact [inaudible] back in the midst of the evacuation, who had been running the airport to work that. We handed off a very detailed plan, which is now being implemented. 

Third, the land process. We’ve worked with Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan on this to make sure that, as we move people out of Afghanistan, they would facilitate their crossing into their countries. We would have consular officials surge to the necessary places to handle people coming out in that fashion. And now, to your very important point about documentation, and this is something that maybe we can take offline, we are working on a mechanism and a means by which – and there are multiple ways of doing this – to make sure that people who don’t have the necessary document, for example, a visa from us, a physical visa, to get that to them. And I prefer to go into more detail on that in another setting.

Sen. Coons: Understood. If I might, just as a closing question. You were asked at the outset sort of what are the factors we weigh as we decide the future of our relationship with the Taliban. And we’re in this difficult situation. Many of us recognize the Taliban is a terrorist organization that’s done horrific things within Afghanistan in the past. Yet, we need to have some working relationship with them to secure the safe passage out of thousands of people who we still care deeply about. A number of American citizens with Delaware ties who I’ve been in contact with didn’t leave because their families were still in Afghanistan. And there are clear measures that they should be expected to meet that you laid out your opening statement. What do you think will be the most important aspects of our leverage to ensure the Taliban perform in ways that we would accept? And what do you think will be the turning point at which we’ll make decisions with our allies to take sharper and harsher measures against the Taliban?

Secretary Blinken: So simply put, the nature of the relationship that the Taliban would have with us or most other countries around the world will depend entirely on its conduct and actions, specifically with regard to freedom of travel, as well as to making good on its counterterrorism commitments, upholding basic rights of the Afghan people, not engaging in reprisals, etc. These are the things that not only we, but countries around the world, are looking at, and there is, I think, significant leverage that we and other countries hold when it comes to things that the Taliban says it wants but won’t get if it does not act in a way that meets these, these expectations. For example, we talked a little bit before about the existing UN sanctions on the Taliban. These are significant, as well as travel restrictions. There’s now a new Security Council resolution that we initiated, setting out the expectations for what the Taliban has to do. If it’s in violation of that resolution, it’s hard to see any of these UN sanctions being lifted, travel restrictions being lifted, and indeed, additional sanctions could well be imposed. 

Similarly, the foreign reserves of Afghanistan are almost exclusively in banks here in the United States, including the Federal Reserve – other banks about $9 billion. All of that has been frozen. There are significant resources as well that are in the international financial institutions that Afghanistan normally would have access to. Those, too, have been frozen. Over the last 20 years or so, the international community is provided about 75 percent of the Afghan government’s annual operating budget. That, too, has been frozen. So, among many things that the Taliban says it seeks, both basic legitimacy and basic support, the United States, the international community, has a hand on a lot of that, much of that, most of that. And so, we’ll have to see going forward what conclusions the Taliban draws from that and what its conduct will be matching these basic expectations that we’ve set.

Sen. Coons: Thank you. 

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Sens. Coons, Inhofe, King, and Lankford reintroduce bipartisan legislation promoting civics education

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Angus King (I-Maine), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) reintroduced the Constitution education Is Valuable in Community Schools (CIVICS) Act – supporting the development of Constitution and civics education curriculum for students across the country. The legislation comes just ahead of Constitution Day on September 17th, a date established in 1952 to recognize the importance of the United States Constitution and the importance of citizenship and civics in our daily lives. The bill was previously introduced in the 116th and 115th Congresses.

“Civics education is essential to our democracy,” said Senator Coons. “Curricula focused on our nation’s founding document offers both an important reminder of our history and a tool for young Americans to fully participate in civic life. That’s why—ahead of Constitution Day—my colleagues and I are advancing bipartisan legislation that supports a robust civics education curriculum and prepares a new generation of active citizens.”

“In February 1952, Congress established September 17th as Constitution Day to recognize the importance of the United States Constitution and the value of citizenship and civics in our daily lives,” said Senator Inhofe. “For over two centuries, the Constitution has reminded us of the importance of our nation’s basis and formation: that we are a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Yet, too often, students aren’t taught about the Constitution, its history or its principles. The Preamble asserts that the Constitution was written, in part, to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and future generations. We believe the best way to honor that promise is to instill the value of our God-given rights and self-governance in our young citizens. By enacting the CIVICS Act and emphasizing the importance of the Constitution in civics education, we can encourage more young Americans to be active participants in our democracy by communicating with their elected officials, engaging in advocacy and, when eligible, voting in state, local and federal elections.”

“Since its ratification in 1788, the U.S. Constitution has guided America’s system of government, and has been the blueprint for freedom and democracy around the globe,” said Senator King. “The continued success of our unique experiment in self-government relies on each successive generation understanding our shared past, national values, and the framers’ careful – though imperfect – work. If we truly want a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, we must make sure the people have the tools and perspective needed to play their part. It is the responsibility of this generation and this Congress to ensure our students receive a full civics education. By passing the CIVICS Act and expanding teaching of the Constitution, we can help young Americans gain the knowledge they need to carry on the work of so many before them and continue our never-ending work to build a more perfect union.”

“The Constitution isn’t just paper and ink. The soul of our nation rests in what our Constitution represents: our values and responsibilities as a nation,” said Senator Lankford. “Now more than ever we must safeguard those values and defend the Constitution’s carefully crafted guarantees of our freedoms and rights. Our nation values the rule of law, personal responsibility without government coercion, and a limited federal government. We should recommit to the values outlined in our Constitution and teach them to our children and grandchildren. On Constitution Day, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the freedom and responsibility we enjoy as Americans with gratitude for the sacrifices of those who have worn the cloth of our nation to protect our way of life.”

First established in 1952, Congress expanded the recognition of Constitution Day in 2004, requiring public schools and federal agencies to teach the Constitution and civics lessons. While the American History and Civics Education program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, created grants for institutions of higher education and other organizations to develop evidence based approaches to improve the quality of American history, civics and government, entities that receive these grants are not required to include educational programs regarding the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. The CIVICS Act would require grant recipients to develop programs that teach the Constitution.

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Senator Coons’ statement on President Biden’s appointment of Dr. Tony Allen to chair Board of Advisors on HBCUs

Senator Coons on former Gov. Markell’s appointment as White House Operation Allies Welcome Coordinator

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on former Gov. Jack Markell’s appointment by President Biden to serve as the White House Operation Allies Welcome Coordinator.

In this role, Markell will coordinate the Biden administration’s resettlement policy development and engage with state and local governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations to support the resettlement of Afghan evacuees in the United States.

“Gov. Markell is a dedicated and capable public servant with the experience, intelligence and character to skillfully coordinate what will be a challenging nationwide effort to ensure our Afghan partners from America’s longest war are safely resettled in the United States,” Sen. Coons said. “I look forward to supporting him in this work and to helping rebuild our nation’s capacity to welcome evacuees.”

Delegation dedicates Mary Ann Shadd Cary Post Office in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, along with Sen. Tom Carper and Sen. Chris Coons (all D-Del.) formally dedicated the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Post Office on Delaware Avenue here.

Blunt Rochester introduced H.R. 5972, the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Post Office Dedication Act on February 26, 2020, and it was signed into law on January 5, 2021. Sens. Carper and Coons wrote a letter of support following protocol that calls for both senators to agree to move naming bills to the floor of the House or Senate.

“It’s difficult to put into words the remarkable life and legacy of Mary Ann Shadd Cary. An abolitionist, suffragist, journalist, newspaper editor and lawyer – she channeled her gifts to whatever purpose they were most needed in the name of freedom and the purpose of equality. When I learned of the full scope and breadth of Ms. Shadd Cary’s accomplishments, I was stunned to learn there were no formal memorials to her work in her home state of Delaware. That changes today,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “I was humbled to join Senator Carper, Senator Coons, family and descendants of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, along with representatives of the United States Postal Service to honor this remarkable Delawarean. May we all take a moment to recognize her remarkable achievements and be inspired by the spirit in which she led her life.”

“When Frederick Douglass asked how we could improve the lives of Black people in this country, it was Mary Ann Shadd Cary who famously responded, ‘We should do more and talk less,’ said Senator Carper. “Unfortunately, too few Americans have ever heard of her or her remarkable legacy. At just 25 years of age, she boldly took her place in the abolitionist movement and fearlessly demanded change. She was a true trailblazer, speaking out when few had the courage to do so, and she should continue to be an inspiration for us today. I am proud that, with this dedication, the thousands who come through Wilmington and pass by this busy post office will now know Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s name and legacy, and I want to thank Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester for all her hard work to finally get this done.”  

“Mary Ann Shadd Cary was a torchbearer who led the way as a journalist, activist, lawyer, and the first Black woman to become a newspaper editor and publisher in North America,” Senator Coons said. “Mrs. Shadd Cary dedicated her life to advancing equity, diversity, and rightful inclusion during an incredibly tumultuous period in our history. The dedication of the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Post Office is a fitting tribute and lasting reminder of her leadership, hard work, and steadfast commitment to the advancement of equality for all.”

“All Shadd Family members are taught at an early age about Mary Ann Shadd Cary and that they are related to an extraordinary woman,” said JanMichael Shadd Graine, great-great-great nephew of Mary Ann Shadd Cary. “She was born a free black in 1823 in Wilmington, Delaware. Her Father was a shoe cobbler by day and an abolitionist by night. She fought for civil rights and female suffrage, became the first black female to establish and edit a newspaper in North America, became a Union recruiting officer for African-Americans in the Civil War, and graduated from Howard University’s law school at the age of 59. The Shadd Family is overjoyed to have this Post Office, in her hometown, renamed in her honor.  We would like to thank Congresswomen Blunt Rochester and her staff for all the hard work to make this wonderful event happen.”

Mary Ann Shadd Cary was a key figure in the suffragist movement, a staunch advocate for women and a prominent abolitionist. In Washington, D.C., where Shadd Cary spent the later years of her life and became one of the first African American women ever to earn a law degree in the United States, her home is designated as a National Historic Landmark. In Canada, there is a statue memorializing her. However, in Delaware, the state of her birth, until now there was no building or landmark dedicated to this pioneer.

Among her many accomplishments, Shadd Cary established the Provincial Freeman, a weekly newspaper based out of Canada, committed to racial and gender equality, thus becoming the first female African American newspaper editor and publisher in North America. During her later life, Shadd Cary was active in the women’s suffrage movement and advocated for the inclusion of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution.

Senator Coons on loss of U.S. service members and Afghan civilians in Afghanistan

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement on the U.S. service members and Afghan civilians killed and wounded in today’s attack at Kabul airport in Afghanistan.

“My heart aches to know that after today’s suicide bombings in Kabul, American and Afghan families are about to receive the worst news imaginable. Let us all stop for a moment and pray for those who have fallen today serving our nation and trying to help make possible a safe evacuation from Afghanistan. Let us also keep in our prayers the many Afghans desperate for a new future whose lives have been cut short. I’m grateful for the bravery of those who continue to work tirelessly to evacuate the remaining Americans and our Afghan partners.”

Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester continue to assist Delawareans in Afghanistan

WILMINGTON, Del. – The offices of U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, Sen. Chris Coons, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) continue to help Delawareans who are in Afghanistan, or have family or loved ones in Afghanistan, and are seeking assistance in evacuating the country. 

“We must do everything we can to help protect Americans and our partners on the ground in Afghanistan,” said Delaware’s congressional delegation. “We continue to work day and night to help those at risk — and we urge all Delawareans to reach out to us if we can assist them or their loved ones.”

Constituents can contact any of the offices — Carper, Coons, or Blunt Rochester — and provide the following information:  

• Full legal name, age, citizenship, gender, and date of birth of the persons seeking to leave Afghanistan.
• Current status – are they an American citizen, a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), a woman at risk, an Afghan currently holding a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), an Afghan that is in the SIV process but does not yet have a SIV, or an Afghan that has been referred to the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) through a P1/P2 referral (if they were referred to the USRAP, please indicate what government agency or US Media/US NGO referred them). 
• Connection to the United States, national ID number (where applicable).
• Passport details to include document number.
• Current location, mobility, and contact information (including email, phone number, messaging abilities, etc.).

Sens. Coons, Portman, King applaud Education Department for automatically discharging outstanding loans for more than 323,000 Americans with a permanent disability

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will automatically discharge the outstanding student loans for more than 323,000 Americans with a total and permanent disability (TPD). The new regulation will eliminate the requirement of student loan borrowers with a TPD who were matched through Social Security Administration (SSA) data to fill out an application before receiving relief. This change will go into effect with the department’s next quarterly data match with SSA, which will occur in September. In addition, the department will indefinitely stop sending automatic requests for earnings information from SSA-matched borrowers and pursue the elimination of the three-year monitoring period during the negotiated rulemaking in October.

“This announcement from the Department of Education is welcome news for the hundreds of thousands of borrowers with a total and permanent disability who have faced burdens and inequities in receiving student debt relief they are entitled to under law,” said the Senators. “For years, we have urged the department to use their authority to improve the lives of these student loan borrowers and we are grateful to Secretary Cardona for taking action to finally address this vital issue by automating the loan discharge process. We will continue to stay engaged on this matter to ensure eligible borrowers get the help they deserve and look forward to the permanent changes to the monitoring period that the department seeks to make this fall.”  

While the Higher Education Act of 1965 allows individuals with a TPD to have their outstanding federal student loans forgiven, these borrowers face significant challenges that are both administratively burdensome and unnecessary in the application and income monitoring process. Unfortunately, this has resulted in hundreds of thousands of eligible borrowers not getting the debt relief they are entitled to.

Since 2016, Sen. Coons has been leading the bipartisan, bicameral effort to fix this issue for Americans. In 2017, his Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act, a bill to remove the federal tax penalty for federal student loans that are discharged due to death or total and permanent disability, was passed into law. Sen. Coons led several letters, sent on February 15, 2018, October 9, 2019, December 5, 2019, and most recently on August 05, 2021 to both the Department of Education and its Inspector General about improving and automating the TPD program.

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