Sen. Coons joins Majority Leader Schumer, Sen. Young in introducing bipartisan bill to bolster US global leadership and competitiveness

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) in introducing the Endless Frontier Act. The bill is a bold initiative to solidify the United States’ leadership in scientific and technological innovation through increased investments in the discovery, creation, and manufacturing of technology critical to national security and economic competitiveness. The bipartisan legislation further targets support to ensure new research investments translate into American industries and manufacturing and high-tech jobs in regions across the country to become global centers of emerging technology.

In addition to Senators Coons, Schumer, and Young, the Endless Frontier Act is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).

“For too long, the U.S. government has underinvested not only in basic research and development, but also in commercializing key innovations by our scientific community,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, which will position the United States to lead the world in the industries of the future and effectively compete with China. By investing in regional technology hubs, the legislation will also ensure that the economic growth generated by these scientific investments is broadly shared across the country.”

“I am proud to reintroduce the bold, bipartisan and bicameral Endless Frontier Act today with Senator Todd Young and Representatives Ro Khanna and Mike Gallagher to address several dangerous weak spots in America’s economy and national security that threaten our global technological leadership,” said Majority Leader Schumer. “This legislation will enhance American competitiveness with China and other countries by investing in American innovation, creating good-paying American manufacturing and high-tech jobs, and strengthening America’s research and development capabilities. The Endless Frontier Act is the key to preserving America’s position on the world stage as a current and future technological leader in the 21^st Century.”

“We face a pivotal time in history. Right now, the Chinese Communist Party is emphasizing to the world that the United States is a divided nation. This is a rare opportunity to show the authoritarians in Beijing, and the rest of the world, that when it comes to our national security, and most importantly our China policy, we are united. The Endless Frontier Act is our path forward. I’ve worked with my colleagues to ensure the Endless Frontier Act will help invest in innovative small businesses that create jobs, invest in critical emerging technologies, and put America in a position to outgrow, out-innovate, and out-compete our leading geopolitical foe,” said Senator Young.

The Endless Frontier Act bill text can be found here and a summary can be found here.

Additional Background on the Bipartisan Endless Frontier Act

Today, the United States’ position as the unequivocal global leader in scientific and technological ingenuity and innovation is under pressure from China and is eroding. U.S. competitiveness and national security are being threatened by decades of U.S. underinvestment in research, manufacturing, and workforce development, coupled with foreign competitors stealing American intellectual property and aggressively investing to dominate the key technology fields of today and of the future.

The Endless Frontier Act will reinvigorate the U.S. innovation economy, support research and development throughout the country, help lead to the creation of new jobs of the future here in America, and keep the U.S. economically competitive against China and other countries. The members of Congress emphasize that without a significant and sustained increase in investment in research, education and training, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and the broader U.S. innovation ecosystem across the nation, it is only a matter of time before America’s global competitors overtake the U.S. in terms of technological primacy, threatening national security and prosperity.

Specifically, the Endless Frontier Act proposes an expansion of the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the establishment of a new Technology and Innovation Directorate within NSF to advance research and development in 10 key technology focus areas, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, advanced communications, biotechnology, and advanced energy.

The newly established Technology and Innovation Directorate would receive $100 billion over five years to invest in basic and advanced research, commercialization, and education and training programs in technology areas critical to national leadership. An additional $10 billion would be authorized at the Department of Commerce to support regional technology strategies and to designate at least 10 regional technology hubs, awarding funds for comprehensive investment initiatives that position regions across the country as global centers for the research, development, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing of new key technologies.

The Endless Frontier Act also establishes a new Supply Chain Resiliency and Crisis Response Program with the national security mission of strengthening critical technology supply chains in the U.S. and with global allies and partners. To support the country’s national security capabilities, the bill mandates a strategy on national competitiveness and ingenuity in science, research, and manufacturing to support the national security strategy.

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Sen. Coons’ statement on guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin trial

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the jury found Derek Chauvin guilty in the death of George Floyd.  

“Today’s conviction brings accountability and I hope it brings some semblance of peace for George Floyd’s family who has endured an unimaginable loss. However, this verdict doesn’t change the fact that we have necessary work to do to reform policing, build trust, and ensure justice. I am committed to working with my colleagues toward the kinds of reforms that will ensure our nation lives up to its promise of equal justice for all.”

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons: Nothing would ‘ruin [Xi Jinping’s] day’ like seeing Republicans & Democrats working with Biden to solve problems

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) joined Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday for a joint interview on bipartisanship and future legislative priorities, including infrastructure and U.S. competitiveness with China.

“The broader question you’re really asking is what’s in it for our country and what’s in it for the people we represent from our states if Republicans and Democrats work together to solve problems,” Senator Coons said. “I think that if we come together in a bipartisan way to pass that $800 billion hard infrastructure bill that you were talking about, that I’ve been urging, then we show our people that we can solve their problems. We’ve all agreed for a long time that we need to invest more in American infrastructure, we just disagree about how to pay for it, and I think in the next few weeks we should roll up our sleeves and sit down and find ways that both parties can support to make these critically needed investments.”

Senator Coons continued, “That’s here at home, but Chris, it’s also critical for our standing in the world. The worst thing that could happen to Xi Jinping, that would ruin his day, would be for him to see Republicans and Democrats working together in the Senate and the House to solve the problems facing the American people in partnership with President Biden. That’s showing that our framers’ vision of principled compromise in Congress can still work, and so whether it’s working with John on a basic bill about teaching civics in our schools, or it’s working together with John on the more challenging issues of immigration or mental health or gun violence or investing in infrastructure, I think we have to show folks we can and will do our best to work together.”

Full audio and video available here. 

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[VIDEO] Sen. Coons on the CORPS Act: ‘This is a great way to bring our country together’

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined CNN’s New Day with Poppy Harlow to discuss the bipartisan Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery from the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act and how expanding national service can aid our recovery.

“There are 75,000 younger Americans serving as AmeriCorps members right now and almost half of them have provided badly needed help during the pandemic,” said Senator Coons. “This bill would significantly strengthen the benefits that those members receive in terms of their living stipend, the education award they earn, but also increase the number of slots available year after year for decades.”

Coons continued, “This is a great way to bring our country together, and the fact that there are 16 co-sponsors, Republican and Democrat from across the whole range of our caucuses, indicates that national service is an idea with genuine bipartisan support.”

The CORPS Act, introduced Thursday with Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and 15 bipartisan colleagues, will expand the number of AmeriCorps positions to support a variety of response and recovery efforts based on community needs, including expanding food bank capacity, mentoring and tutoring students recovering from learning loss, helping to improve housing, and more. 

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Sens. Coons & Wicker, 15 bipartisan colleagues reintroduce bill to expand national service to bolster COVID-19 recovery

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), with 15 bipartisan colleagues, reintroduced the Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery from the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act, legislation that would expand national service programs significantly to help the country recover and rebuild from COVID-19.

In addition to Coons and Wicker, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

The CORPS Act would increase the number of AmeriCorps positions available to support a variety of response and recovery efforts based on community needs, including expanding food bank capacity, mentoring and tutoring students recovering from learning loss, helping to improve housing, and more.

“The past year has shown us that America can overcome any challenge so long as we do so together – when we look out for our neighbors, give back to our communities, and unite behind a common purpose,” Coons said. “We still have work to do to end this pandemic, rebuild, and recover, and one of the best ways we can do that is by investing in our strengths – in the thousands of young people who are eager to roll up their sleeves and serve their country, and in our locally-driven national service network that is already on the ground meeting urgent needs in our communities. I’m proud to introduce the CORPS Act with Senator Wicker and this impressive group of colleagues, and look forward to passing it into law so we can build back stronger than ever.” 

“Our nation’s full recovery from the pandemic will require an all-hands approach,” Wicker said. “Boosting the ranks of our service corps is a cost-efficient way to get communities the help they need. I am glad to join Senator Coons in reintroducing the CORPS Act, which would expand national service opportunities at a crucial time for our nation. The COVID-19 outbreak has presented many challenges for our nation, and national service can help us emerge even stronger from this crisis.”

“As more Americans get vaccinated and we move closer to post-pandemic recovery, people are eager to get to work in service to their communities and the nation.  This legislation will help elevate national service to uplift people and communities, strengthen our democracy, and help us address health, economic, and social challenges,” said Reed, who helped create the bipartisan National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.

“The CORPS Act will build upon the existing AmeriCorps framework, providing Americans wishing to serve with more opportunities to fill critical needs in their communities,” said Blunt. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation, which will expand the role that national service organizations play in helping our communities recover from the pandemic.”

“Just as picking up a rifle to defend our country is ‘American Service,’ so is helping out a food pantry for those at risk of hunger, assisting students with remote education and helping patients make critical health care decisions as we work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Duckworth said. “We should be doing everything we can to make sure vital service programs like AmeriCorps are accessible to all Americans—especially those who come from underserved communities or have had contact with the juvenile justice system—who wish to serve and help the country they love build back better. That’s why I’m proud to help Senator Coons and Senator Wicker introduce this bipartisan proposal—which builds on my 21st Century American Service Act—and I look forward to sending it to the President’s desk.”

“National service organizations serve as valuable resources to communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” Hyde-Smith said. “Expanding and strengthening programs like AmeriCorps and Senior Corps can do much to aid communities in overcoming the effects of the pandemic on their residents.”

“National service programs, such as AmeriCorps, do extraordinary work in helping to provide vital services to some of our most vulnerable communities,” said Booker. “These volunteers have been helping strengthen neighborhoods for decades. Amid these tumultuous times, expanding national service programs like AmeriCorps will aid in our nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“This pandemic has presented our communities with public health and financial challenges unlike any we’ve seen in our lifetimes,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would help utilize the wide-ranging skills of thousands of Texans serving in the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps during this crisis to serve those most in need.”

“National service programs like AmeriCorps and Seniors Corps have already proved vital to supporting Arizona communities through the pandemic, and this bipartisan legislation will expand national service to get more Arizonans involved and power our economic recovery,” said Kelly.

“From delivering meals to supporting remote learning to providing critical outreach to seniors experiencing loneliness, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members are making a lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals in Maine, particularly during the challenges of the past year,” said Collins. “The CORPS Act builds on the existing foundation of successful service by providing flexibility to meet local needs and increasing our overall investment in national service programs to help our communities rebound from the COVID-19 crisis.”

“National service volunteers have helped us address this crisis, making a difference in neighborhoods nationwide,” said Klobuchar. “As we rebuild our economy and get communities the resources they need to bounce back, this is an all hands on deck moment – and I’m proud to support legislation that will expand national service opportunities, ensuring all who want to participate are able.”

“I commend the countless Americans who are committed to national service, and believe that we should support expanded opportunities to ensure economic recovery, community wellbeing, and access to dignified work,” Rubio said. “I am proud to join my Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that will help Americans, contribute to our nation’s ongoing economic recovery by serving our local communities, promoting public health, and supporting their families through service to our great nation.”

“Wisconsinites have always been committed to serving their communities, and many folks in our state have answered the call to serve to combat COVID-19 throughout our neighborhoods. Now is the time to scale up our national service programs so those who want to take action and help our communities get through this pandemic have the opportunity to do so,” said Baldwin. “I’m proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation that will help service organizations expand their reach to engage more people and bring communities together to combat this public health crisis, save lives and move our country forward.”

“The CORPS Act builds on the existing framework of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to help lead our national rebuilding efforts,” Graham said. “A focus on local rebuilding efforts and community service will pay dividends for our nation.”

“Throughout the pandemic, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members have stepped up to provide essential support to neighbors in need,” said King. “In the face of overwhelming obstacles, these leaders have responded with energy, joy, and compassion, bringing light in a dark moment to struggling Americans in large cities and remote regions. Their work has been essential to our communities, and we should be taking every possible opportunity to expand these national service programs so they can continue to play a major role during our recovery. I’m standing with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to advocate for these service organizations, because I will always bet on the American people’s capacity to respond to challenges with dedication, ingenuity, and kindness for their neighbors.”

“National service organizations create opportunity for Americans of different backgrounds to engage in meaningful solutions that make our communities stronger,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This legislation supports that effort and charts a path forward for COVID recovery.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on so many communities. As we continue to make investments to get through this pandemic, we have an opportunity to build our communities back stronger with the help of civically-minded AmeriCorps volunteers,” said Durbin. “With the CORPS Act, we can expand upon the great work of those serving in AmeriCorps and take bold action to directly address the needs of our communities in food pantries, in education, in housing, and in environmental justice.”

“The CORPS Act demonstrates the strong bipartisan support in Congress for investing in the nimble and effective national service infrastructure that has been deploying citizens of every background in service to their communities for decades,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service. “In addition to expanding AmeriCorps and strengthening AmeriCorps Seniors to help communities respond to and recover from COVID-19, the CORPS Act will give young people experience, skills, a living stipend and post-service education scholarship to help pay for college. The Voices for National Service community is deeply grateful to Senator Coons, Senator Wicker and their colleagues for their leadership and bold vision for the vital role that national service can play in helping our communities at this critical moment in our nation’s history.”

“America’s Service Commissions is proud to endorse the bipartisan CORPS Act as it is reintroduced in the 117th Congress,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO of America’s Service Commissions (ASC). “This bill is a bold-but-realistic proposal to make AmeriCorps, state service commissions, national service and volunteer programs a cornerstone of our nation’s long-term economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanding national service opportunities and benefits is essential to making service accessible to all and engaging a diverse group of Americans who want to serve our country and gain valuable job skills and experience in the process. The CORPS Act also provides governors and their state service commissions the flexibility they need to get these national service resources out the door to local communities and nonprofits quickly and efficiently. Our network stands ready to implement the CORPS Act across all states and territories during the COVID economic recovery period.”

“National service continues to play a critical role in our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and it has the power to help America recover and rebuild. Service Year Alliance is proud to support the bipartisan CORPS Act which will allow existing programs to expand their impact and will jumpstart the creation of new national service programs to boost our recovery efforts,” said Jesse Colvin, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “National service has the power to tackle youth unemployment by mobilizing the next generation of Americans and putting them on a path to good-paying jobs and future education. As the Administration and Congress set their sights on the American Jobs Plan and rebuilding our economy, expanding national service can put the voices of communities at the center of the effort to combat our climate crisis and rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. Additionally, by increasing the living allowance, engaging young people from diverse populations, and focusing on the creation of new programs that specifically support underserved communities, the CORPS Act is a step in the right direction towards making national service a more equitable and inclusive opportunity for all young Americans.”

For a one-pager on the bill, please click here.

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Sens. Coons and Rubio seek to prioritize Uyghurs for refugee processing

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced legislation to make Uyghurs who have been persecuted by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) eligible for priority refugee processing in the United States. The Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act would make it easier for Uyghurs and members of other Turkic or Muslim minority groups to apply for resettlement in the United States, and it encourages our allies and partners to implement similar policies.

The introduction of the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act comes after the two senators led a bipartisan group urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take additional measures to assist Uyghurs and other Turkic or Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. In addition, last month Coons and Rubio introduced a resolution condemning the PRC government for its treatment of the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and calling for an international investigation into the abuses and crimes committed there. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.).

“The United States must continue to speak out against the PRC’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and we must also provide assurance and protection for the Uyghurs and all those facing persecution as a result of their religious or ethnic identity,” said Senator Coons, co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus. “To effectively compete with China, we must be the best version of ourselves, including by living our values and welcoming those who have been unjustly imprisoned in or forced to flee Xinjiang.”

“As the CCP is committing egregious human rights violations, including genocide and crimes against humanity, urgent action is needed to end the atrocities and assist Uyghurs and others facing persecution in Xinjiang,” said Senator Rubio. “I’m proud to join Senator Coons in introducing this bill to grant Uyghurs with priority refugee status.”

The bill is endorsed by Niskanen Center, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), Refugees International, Uyghur Human Rights Project, American Jewish Committee, and Freedom to Believe.

“Refugees International applauds today’s bipartisan introduction of the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act in the Senate,” said Hardin Lang, vice president for programs and policy at Refugees International. “The bill highlights the documented persecution of the Uyghur population and provides additional protection measures at a critical time. Priority 2 status for refugee resettlement in the United States will provide an important lifeline, particularly for those Uyghurs who have already fled China yet continue to face persecution.”

“Horrific persecution and repression by the Chinese government on over 11 million Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region — including the use of internment camps and forced sterilization — has been rightfully recognized by the U.S. as constituting genocide and crimes against humanity,” said Kristie De Peña, Niskanen’s vice president of policy and director of immigration. “The Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act is a necessary complement to that designation and the U.S.’ accompanying sanctions that allows us to work with our global partners to protect refugees in the region who fear persecution and death.”

“Support for this legislation will be essential in an active response to the genocide Uyghurs are now facing,”said Omar Kanat, Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project. “If governments are serious about responding to the crisis, they must embrace these kinds of measures to ensure that Uyghurs abroad cannot be forcibly returned to China to face persecution and detention. This legislation would empower the U.S. government to rescue vulnerable Uyghurs who have escaped China’s genocide.”

“The Jewish community is all too familiar with the plight of the refugee. American leadership is critical to ensure that Uyghurs seeking asylum receive greater protection from the very serious risk of being returned to imprisonment, torture, or persecution,” Felice Gaer, Director of the American Jewish Committee’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights. “This bill, by affording that protection, upholds American values and international human rights norms.”

“The persecution of the Uyghurs by the Chinese government is a grave human rights violation  and requires immediate action,” Diliman Abdulkader, Advisor to Freedom to Believe. “The Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act is a timely and critical component to ensuring ethnic minorities in the region are protected from crimes and abuses by the CCP.”

The bill text is available here. 

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Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Highlight Funding for Vaccinating Delawareans in the American Rescue Plan

WILMINGTON, Del.  — Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), and Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik joined together with Dr. Janice Nevin, president and CEO of ChristianaCare at its Wilmington hospital to highlight funding for Delaware to help combat COVID-19 through vaccine distribution, education, and safety. This funding was made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act, supported by Delaware’s Congressional Delegation, and signed into law by President Biden in March.

The latest COVID-19 relief bill, the American Rescue Plan Act, invests nearly $93 billion to get vaccines into the arms of Americans and provide crucial supplies, testing, staffing, and other public health activities to stop the spread of COVID-19. This includes funding for states like Delaware to help speed up vaccine distribution and administration.

The American Rescue Plan Act will provide Delaware with $16,018,627 from the Centers for Disease Control to expand COVID-19 vaccine programs, with more funding to combat the virus to come. Delaware has received at least $25 million so far from COVID-19 relief legislation supported by Delaware’s Congressional Delegation.

“The only way we can truly recover from this pandemic, rejoin our loved ones, and get our communities and economy back up and running is by continuing Delaware’s safe and efficient vaccine program,” said Sen. Carper. “Now that Delaware has opened up its vaccination waiting list to those 16 and older, weeks ahead of President Biden’s target date, we can use this funding to help us reach our goal to get more vaccines into more arms of Delawareans, and provide education and access to those who need it on the safety and efficacy of getting vaccinated.”

“The American Rescue Plan is principally focused on getting us out of this pandemic,” said Sen. Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “In Congress, we appropriated $93 billion, and a fair amount of that is specifically to deliver more vaccines. Some of that funding is for contact tracing, some of it is for support for the healthcare workforce that has been so tested and challenged by this pandemic and has done such an amazing job, but a whole lot of it is to get more doses of more vaccines in more arms more quickly. About $16 million of that federal funding comes here to Delaware, specifically, and strengthens the trajectory and the delivery in this effort.”

“This funding for vaccines, testing, and contact tracing is critical for slowing the spread of COVID-19. We quickly surpassed President Biden’s goal of 100 million vaccines in 100 days,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “This funding is crucial for sustaining the progress we’ve made in vaccine distribution. I’m proud to join Senators Carper and Coons to highlight this funding. I am proud of the work we did on the American Rescue Plan and am grateful for the Administration’s leadership as we recover, rebuild, and restore our nation. I encourage every Delawarean, especially now that everyone 16 and older is eligible, to get their vaccine when they have the chance to help protect our communities and move toward a healthier future.”  

“The COVID-19 vaccine distribution is the largest public health response in our state’s history,” Secretary Magarik said. “Vaccinating hundreds of thousands of Delawareans against this deadly disease takes painstaking organization across the government and health care sectors. This effort also requires increased federal funding to plan and staff the clinics, document the vaccinations and promote the vaccine with the public. For those reasons and many others, we are grateful to the Congressional Delegation for supporting the vaccine distribution in our state through increased federal funding in the American Rescue Plan Act.”

As a leading regional health system committed to caring for the community, ChristianaCare has been on the front lines of testing and vaccination, delivering over 100,000 COVID tests and close to 40,000 vaccinations to protect the community against the virus. ChristianaCare holds mass events each week vaccinating thousands of Delawareans, including the highest-need neighborhoods, in partnership with trusted faith-based and community leaders. 

“COVID-19 exposed the sobering realities that drive health inequities, the disproportionate impact on communities of color, and the effect of the burden of chronic disease,” said Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare. “Access to coverage and care is absolutely essential for every member of our community. Our commitment to equity has never been more important and the commitment of our caregivers volunteering to staff these events has never been stronger.”

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Sen. Coons applauds United Airlines’ partnership with DSU to increase diversity in pilot ranks

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on United Airlines’ plans to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030, at least half of them women and people of color. United will accomplish this goal in part through partnerships with Delaware State University and two other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“I welcome today’s announcement by United Airlines to help break down barriers to the airline pilot career path and increase diversity in the ranks. This effort will not only create new opportunities for women and people of color to become pilots, it will provide the industry with access to exceptional talent from HBCUs like Delaware State University, which are already working to graduate more pilots from underrepresented groups with the support of the bipartisan FLIGHT Act, which I introduced and helped pass into law last year. Our aviation industry should look like our country, and this announcement is an important step toward inclusion and diversity at the highest levels of the field.”

In December 2020, the Senate passed the Fostering Leadership and Inclusion by Growing HBCU Training (FLIGHT) Act of 2020, legislation introduced by Sens. Coons and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Reps. Anthony Brown (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-N.C.), as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The FLIGHT Act provides new resources for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students at HBCUs, like Delaware State University, and minority institutions, with special emphasis on support for flight training. For more information, please click here.

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VIDEO: Congressional delegation, Small Business Administration highlight federal programs to help small business in Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. – Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, Sen. Chris Coons, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), joined Small Business Administration officials and local chambers of commerce for a virtual event to highlight available and expanded federal resources for small businesses through the American Rescue Plan Act, the pandemic relief bill signed into law earlier this month, and other recent federal legislation.

“For the past year, Delaware’s business owners have been fighting to stay afloat and preserve jobs in our communities,” said Sen. Carper. “I was proud to work with my fellow delegation members to get the latest relief package passed through Congress and out to families and businesses quickly. I encourage all small business owners who have questions about what they are eligible for to reach out to our offices to get the help they need.”

“The American Rescue Plan is what our state and our country need most at this moment,” said Sen. Coons. “Throughout the pandemic, through last year and this year, small business owners in Delaware have been working to preserve jobs in our community, and the American Rescue Plan delivers emergency grants, more lending, more investment, particularly to hard-hit small businesses and nonprofits, that will help them to both retain and hire folks. It puts the full force of the federal government behind ending the pandemic and helping our state recover.”

“When we passed the American Rescue Plan, the entire Delaware Delegation committed to ensuring that Delawareans knew where and how to access the critical resources resulting from the landmark piece of legislation,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “I was proud to join with Senators Carper and Coons, along with the Delaware office of the Small Business Administration to help identify resources for Delaware small businesses who have worked so hard to weather the impacts of COVID over the last year. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to let Delawareans up and down the state know – help is here.”

“There is no doubt that COVID-19’s impact has tested the small business community nationwide and here, in the First State,” said John Fleming, SBA Delaware Director. “The American Rescue Plan Act empowers SBA to bring small businesses navigating COVID-19’s impact real relief, with programs like the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the Community Navigator pilot program. Agencywide and here, in Delaware, SBA aims to be an entrepreneurial resource, for the pandemic’s duration and beyond.”

To watch the virtual event, visit coons.senate.gov/news/videos. For more information from the Small Business Administration, go to sba.gov/offices/district/de/wilmington.      

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New legislation for Civilian Climate Corps introduced 88 years after New Deal-era CCC

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) announced legislation to put Americans to work during the COVID-19 pandemic and help communities address climate change by establishing a Civilian Climate Corps. The announcement comes just days ahead of the 88^th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps, a national service program that employed millions of Americans during the Great Depression to complete conservation projects across the country.

This week, the White House announced support for $10 billion to mobilize the next generation of conservation and resilience workers and establish a Civilian Climate Corps as part of the American Jobs Plan. The Civilian Climate Corps Act builds on President Biden’s call for a climate-focused national service program by authorizing the administration to utilize existing national service programs and coordinate with federal and non-federal entities to create a Civilian Climate Corps. The Civilian Climate Corps would facilitate projects to help disadvantaged communities build resilience to climate change, including efforts to conserve and restore public lands, assist natural disaster-prone communities, utilize natural climate solutions, replace vulnerable infrastructure, protect biodiversity, and enhance ecological resilience. The bill would also reserve funding for Tribal and Native American communities, encourage diversity within the Corps, and require a report describing the proposed number of Corps members and funding needs. 

“Eighty-eight years ago, President Roosevelt tapped into the power of national service to address the unemployment crisis caused by the Great Depression and restore our environment when he created the Civilian Conservation Corps,” said Senator Coons. “Now, as our country faces the COVID-19 pandemic and the threats posed by climate change, we have another opportunity to address both challenges simultaneously. The Civilian Climate Corps Act will provide opportunities for people across the country to help the most vulnerable communities prepare for the impacts of climate change.”

“Establishing a Civilian Climate Corps will provide national service opportunities to a new generation and help power our economic recovery. We can put thousands of Americans to work right away rebuilding crumbling infrastructure on our public lands—some of which dates back all the way to the original Civilian Conservation Corps. This will keep growing our outdoor economy, which was fueling some of the fastest job growth in rural communities before the onset of the pandemic. The new CCC members can also make vital contributions to restore the health of American landscapes and improve our resilience to climate impacts like more extreme wildfires and floods,” said Senator Heinrich, the first AmeriCorps alum to serve in the U.S. Senate. “In times of crisis, Americans have always embraced service to their nation. We will be a stronger country if we both ask Americans to serve and give them meaningful opportunities to do so. There is so much work we need to do to tackle the climate crisis and to rebuild our country. Let’s make national service a central part of every plan for change.”

“When President Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps, he did so to put Americans back to work and unite them through national service. Now, as our nation confronts the climate crisis, I’m proud to introduce legislation alongside my colleagues to create the Civilian Climate Corps to give our young people the resources they need to tackle climate change,” said Senator Luján. “The threats that climate change poses must be taken seriously to protect our Mother Earth, create new opportunities, and preserve our way of life.”

“The launch of a 21st Century Civilian Climate Corps would put many Coloradans, and hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work addressing our public lands maintenance backlog and restoring our forests in the wake of devastating western wildfires,” said Representative Joe Neguse. “I’ve been engaged in efforts to establish a reimagined 21st century corps for many months, and we’re grateful for President Biden’s eagerness to fund this proposal, as outlined in this week’s American Jobs Plan through a $10 billion fund to create the civilian climate corps. I’m proud to lead today’s legislation, the Civilian Climate Corps Act, which would authorize existing national service programs to create the Civilian Climate Corps. A reimagined civilian climate corps would create jobs, help us tackle the climate crisis and engage the next generation in efforts to restore our lands and communities. As we navigate the COVID-19 recovery, this proposal will be crucial for the west to get back to work meeting the challenges faced by our communities.”

“The urgency of the climate crisis requires a new level of creativity and ambition. As the next generation looks to tackle climate change head on, we must invest in opportunities for Americans to acquire the skills they need to build a stronger and healthier planet,” said Representative Spanberger. “In this moment, we need to focus on nurturing a talent pool of American workers that can gain valuable expertise in conservation, restoration, resiliency, and more. That’s why I’m proud to help lead this bicameral legislation to establish a Civilian Climate Corps. These dedicated Americans would spearhead the charge in preventing future catastrophes, reducing the long-term economic costs of this ecological crisis, and bringing enthusiasm and purpose to our fight against climate change.”

The Civilian Climate Corps Act is endorsed by the Corps Network, Voices for National Service, Service Year Alliance, National Wildlife Federation, and the National Audubon Society.

“We know what our country can accomplish when Americans have the opportunity to serve. Every year, Service and Conservation Corps partner with federal, state and local government agencies to engage young people and veterans in meaningful service activities. With the establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps initiative, we are hopeful to see opportunities for many more Americans to gain hands-on work experience while completing projects to build our climate resiliency and improve our infrastructure,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network.“We extend deep appreciation to Sen. Coons, Sen. Heinrich, Sen. Luján, Rep. Neguse and Rep. Spanberger for their longstanding support of national service. The Service and Conservation Corps community stands ready to scale up and expand our public-private partnerships to meet the needs of this moment.”

“President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps, a precursor to AmeriCorps, in the 1930s to meet a clear and critical need. In that tradition, and with equally pressing needs today, the Civilian Climate Corps would use people-powered solutions to address the effects of the climate crisis on our most vulnerable communities,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service. “We commend Senators Coons, Heinrich, and Lujan and Representatives Neguse and Spanberger for leveraging ?the strong and nimble national service network of AmeriCorps programs, and look forward to working with them as the bill moves through Congress.”

“Launching President Biden’s proposed Civilian Climate Corps is the perfect way to put hundreds of thousands of young people to work restoring natural resources, bolstering resilience, and revitalizing communities. It’s the ultimate win-win-win,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.“Relaunching a modern CCC will allow us to act at-scale to confront the inter-related climate, biodiversity, and environmental justice crises which demand immediate attention. We are incredibly grateful to Senators Coons, Heinrich, and Lujan for their remarkable leadership and look forward to working closely with them to turn this idea a reality.”

“Protecting people and wildlife from the worst effects of climate change will require all the help we can get, and the creation of a Civilian Climate Corps will provide critical support and opportunities to meet our economic and environment challenges,” said Sarah Greenberger, vice president of conservation policy at the National Audubon Society. “These teams will play a vital role in conserving our public lands and waters and building resilience to climate change through nature-based solutions, like living shorelines, wetlands, and sustainable forest management. We fully support the creation of the Civilian Climate Corps to protect the places that both birds and people need to survive.”

Full text of the bill is available here. A summary of the bill is available here.

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