Senator Coons calls for community approach to children’s mental health care

Senator Coons addressed more than 200 Delawareans about the importance of a community-wide response to mental health challenges at “Creating a Common Vision for Children’s Mental Health,” a conference hosted by Delaware Family Voices.  

The conference, sponsored by Rockford Center and MeadowWood Behavioral Health System, brought together key stakeholders, including families, mental health care providers, and state service agencies to provide opportunities for families to learn about available services and become leaders and effective advocates for their children’s health and well-being.

“As parents, we are our children’s best advocates,” said Chris. “This conference is so important because it shows parents of children with mental and behavioral health challenges that they are not alone. There is a community of people here to help you and your family overcome the obstacles and access the services and support your child needs to succeed.”

Chris remarked that we have come a long way from the days of June and Beaver Cleaver of Leave it to Beaver with regard to what a family looks like. In a time when our national conversation has shifted from the Brady Bunch to Modern Family, we can and should encourage families to talk openly about their struggles, victories, fears and hopes for themselves and their children.

Delaware Family Voices (DeFV) is a non-profit, family-staffed Family to Family Health Information Center that assists families of children and youth with special health care needs and is federally funded through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Statewide Family Network Grant. The Delaware Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services also provides funding to DeFV to assist families in their advocacy.

More information about Delaware Family Voices can be found at www.delawarefamilytofamily.org.   

International Criminal Court at risk as Kenyan trials get underway

As the International Criminal Court (ICC) trials of Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and former radio executive Joshua Sang begin at the Hague, the Court’s future credibility and effectiveness in delivering justice for victims of state-sponsored atrocities is in jeopardy. Ruto and Sang – as well as current President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose trial will begin in November – are accused of committing crimes against humanity during the widespread, ethnically-tinged violence that followed Kenya’s disputed December 2007 presidential election. In Kenya, the prosecution of high-level officials by the ICC has prompted a motion by the Kenyan Parliament calling for withdrawal from the ICC and cessation of cooperation with the Court. Kenya has been an ICC member state since 2005.

Though the current trials will move forward regardless of Kenya’s decision, the Kenyan government’s energetic campaign to discredit the ICC among its African peers has successfully damaged the ICC’s standing in Africa. The campaign paints the ICC as a “foreign” institution that targets Africans while ignoring the transgressions of Europeans and others guilty of heinous crimes. The African Union has openly supported the efforts of Kenya, Sudan, and others to undermine the ICC’s credibility and effectiveness. 

It’s important to remember, however, that the ICC began investigating the Kenyan cases only after the Kenyan government failed to meet the commitments made by its own president to either investigate and prosecute those responsible for the post-election violence or refer the cases to the ICC. The ICC represented the only avenue for justice for more than 1,100 Kenyans killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by the post-election conflict; just as it was the only entity capable of prosecuting President Bashir of Sudan for the genocide that left several hundred thousand dead in Darfur.

The ICC is not a panacea nor should it be seen as a first resort. However, the participation of Kenya and the majority of African states in the ICC has demonstrated, in the words of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, a dedication “to tipping the balance in favor of justice and away from impunity.”

Unfortunately, that commitment is waning.  African Union snubs and active campaigns by indictees to intimidate witnesses have already weakened the ICC’s ability to effectively prosecute cases. If Kenya withdraws, other states may follow, leaving millions of victims of atrocities with limited hope of recourse when their national institutions fail them. That would indeed be a tragedy.  As President Obama so eloquently stated in 2010, “In Kenya and beyond, justice is a critical ingredient for lasting peace.” 

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: September 16 to September 22

Monday, September 16 at 9:45 a.m. – The Senator will deliver keynote remarks at the Delaware Family Voices’ Child Mental Health Summit. The conference, titled “Creating a Common Vision for Children’s Mental Health,” will bring mental health care providers and state service agencies together with families to share knowledge about available services and help parents advocate for their children’s health and well-being. Embassy Suites, 654 S. College Ave, Newark, DE – Open to press. Contact Brian Cunningham at 302-573-6345.

Monday, September 16 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will visit William Penn High School and meet with leaders and participants from Communities In Schools of Delaware. Communities In Schools brokers and develops mentoring, tutoring, and after-school programming to empower students to stay in school and achieve in life. William Penn High School, New Castle, DE.

Monday, September 16 at 12:30 p.m. – The Senator will deliver the third annual James R. Soles Lecture on the Constitution and Citizenship at the University of Delaware’s Constitution Day Luncheon. The Soles Lecture honors the late Dr. James R. Soles, a member of the University’s political science and international relations faculty for more than 34 years, and marks the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. University of Delaware, Perkins Student Center, 325 Academy St, New Castle, DE – Open to press.

Tuesday, September 17 at 2:15 p.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting. The Committee will consider two nominations, the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act, and an original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee during the 113^th Congress. S-116, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Foreign Relations Committee’s Adam Sharon at 202-224-4651.

Tuesday, September 17 at 5:15 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the Yale CEO Caucus. Senator Coons will address business leaders, political leaders, and scholars about the need for Washington to refocus on manufacturing jobs. 101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 3:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Wednesday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend a reception with the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and Federal Judges Association to greet bankruptcy judges, district court judges, and magistrate judges in attendance. Senator Coons is chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Bankruptcy and the Courts. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, September 18 at 8:00 p.m. – The Senator will compete in the National Press Club’s Centennial Spelling Bee. The event will pit nine Members of Congress against nine Washington journalists in a reprise of the first “Best Speller in the United States” competition, originally held in 1913. Proceeds from the competition will benefit the National Press Club’s non-profit Journalism Institute. 529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Katy Steinmetz at katy_steinmetz@timemagazine.com.

Thursday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Judiciary Committee business meeting. The committee will consider the National Blue Alert Act, a bill cosponsored by Senator Coons to establish a national network system to disseminate information when a law enforcement officer is injured or killed in the line of duty. The committee will also consider three nominations for district judge and one nomination for circuit judge. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Thursday, September 19 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will deliver opening remarks at an event marking Pulmonary Fibrosis Advocacy Day. Senator Coons, who has introduced legislation to expand pulmonary fibrosis research, will address key stakeholders and advocates about efforts to combat this deadly and debilitating respiratory disease. SVC 203-2 Capitol Visitors Center, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Ian Koski at 202-224-5042.

Thursday, September 19 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 1:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Thursday, September 19 at 4:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 5:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Thursday, September 19 at 5:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend the second annual Golden Goose Award Ceremony. The ceremony recognizes scientists and engineers whose federally funded research has had significant human and economic benefits. Reserve Officers Association Building, 1 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Barry Toiv at 202-408-7500.

Saturday, September 21 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Delaware Saengerbund Oktoberfest Festival. The three-day annual festival features authentic German specialties, Bavarian bands, folk dancing, amusement rides, games and more. 49 Salem Church Road Newark, DE – Open to press.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: September 9 to September 15

Tuesday, September 10 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will chair a Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on the Federal Judgeship Act of 2013. The bill, introduced by Senator Coons and Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy, would create 91 new federal judgeships to assist overburdened courts facing rapidly growing caseloads. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Ian Koski at 202-224-5042.

Tuesday, September 10 at 12:40 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the Annual Chamber Day hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Senator Coons will address business leaders and executives from the Greater Philadelphia area on a range of recent legislative issues, including immigration and tax reform, as well as the Delaware River deepening project and other regional issues. Congressional Meeting Room North, Capitol Visitors Center, Washington, D.C.– Open to press. Contact Anselm Sauter at 215.790.3613.

Wednesday, September 11 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting on the Economic Impacts of Climate Change. The discussion will feature Delaware Secretary of the Environment and Energy Collin O’Mara and other leaders, and will focus on the economic consequences of climate change. S-207 Mansfield Room, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, September 11 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Congressional Remembrance Day Ceremony honoring the 12^th observance of September 11, 2001. East Steps, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. Open to press.

Wednesday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 3:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Thursday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Judiciary Committee Business Meeting. The committee will consider two bills cosponsored by Senator Coons: S. 987, Free Flow of Information Act and S.357, National Blue Alert Act. S.987 would protect the free flow of information to the public by establishing conditions under which the federal government can compel information disclosure by the news media. S.357 would establish a national network system to disseminate information when a law enforcement officer is injured or killed in the line of duty. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Thursday, September 12 at 4:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 5:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Saturday, September 14 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association Parade. State Street, Dover, DE – Open to press. Contact DVFA at 302-734-9390.

Saturday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the 10th Annual StartUpAfrica Entrepreneurs’ Conference and Awards Gala. Senator Coons will accept StartUpAfrica’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his work promoting U.S.-Africa trade and investment and will discuss efforts to encourage sustainable economic growth in Africa. Clarion Hotel, DuPont Hwy, New Castle, DE – Open to press. Contact Erastus Mong’are at 302-299-7045.

Sunday, September 15 at 9:30 a.m. – The Senator will address the congregation and adult education class at First and Central Presbyterian Church. The Senator will speak about the importance of service during the church’s “Minute for Mission” segment. First and Central Presbyterian Church, 1101 Market Street, Rodney Square, Wilmington, DE – Closed to press.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Senator Coons welcomes Ducks Unlimited leaders to Delaware

Senator Coons joined members of Delaware’s Ducks Unlimited (DU) Chapter to welcome visiting DU National CEO Dale Hall, Board President George Dunklin, and DU of Mexico Board President John Tomke to Delaware at a barbeque dinner Wednesday night in Dover. Hall, Dunklin, and Tomke were in town to congratulate Delaware DU members for their outstanding fundraising efforts, which bring in nearly $1 million each year for conservation in the state. The daylong visit included meetings with Delaware chapter members and a clay shoot.

“DU and its members in Delaware are among our nation’s best advocates for wetland conservation, farmland preservation, and preserving sporting traditions,” Senator Coons said. “Delaware’s thriving wildlife and pristine landscapes speak to the enormous success of DU’s efforts to conserve our vital natural resources. It was an honor to welcome DU’s national leaders to Delaware to show off the outstanding accomplishments of our state chapter and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration.”

Delaware’s DU chapter has more than 6,300 members and has earned a national reputation for its passionate, active membership and highly successful fundraising. Delaware is also situated along the Atlantic Flyway, a major migration and wintering route for North American waterfowl. Over the past seven years, DU’s staff and volunteers have helped to conserve over 15,000 acres in Delaware and 13 million acres across North America.

During Wednesday’s dinner, Chris spoke with DU leaders about important legislative priorities, including passing a five-year farm bill, preserving funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), increasing the price of the Duck Stamp, and reintroducing a sportsmen’s package of conservation, hunting and fishing bills.

Chris has been a strong advocate for each of these priorities in the Senate, supporting programs that protect wildlife and habitat, water quality, and open space. Earlier this year, he helped to introduce legislation to reauthorize NAWCA and cosponsored a bill to secure permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which protects land and waterways of state and national importance.

More information about Delaware Ducks Unlimited can be found here: http://www.ducks.org/delaware/

The organization’s national website is: www.ducks.org.

Senator Coons questions Kerry, Hagel, Dempsey on Syria

At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, Senator Coons questioned Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey about President Obama’s request for an authorization of the use of military force in Syria. A transcript follows:

SENATOR COONS: Thank you, Chairman Menendez. I would like to thank Secretaries Kerry and Hagel and Chairman Dempsey for your service to your nation, for your testimony in front of us today. I think the authorization of the use of force, I think the commitment of America’s military strength is one of the most important issues that we will ever debate in this Congress, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have this conversation today. As secretary Kerry said, in his opening testimony, not just what we decide, but how we decide it, will send a very important message around the world, that this Congress can still function in a nonpartisan way, in the interest of the people of the United States.

As I’ve listened to Delawareans in recent days, I think they reflect a nation that is weary of war and that is wary of inadvertently repeating some of the challenges of our engagement in Iraq. I’ve heard specific and pointed concerns that we not rush into action, based on uneven or inaccurate intelligence, that we not be drawn into a civil war we don’t fully understand or where we can’t quite discern the good guys from the bad guys. And more than anything, that we not commit to an open-ended participation, a direct military invasion in an occupation of a country in a part of the world that is often confounding and is full of competing priorities.

Having reviewed the intelligence this morning in a classified briefing, having participated in a number of briefings from you and from folks leading in your agencies and departments, I am persuaded that this is not that circumstance. That the intelligence is solid. That we have, in this distance, a clear violation of a long-standing global red line against the use of chemical weapons. As you’ve stated, something embedded in America’s statutes and in our treaty commitments, something that is a truly global standard.

My view, as I’ve watched both the images on TV that were presented at the beginning of this hearing, and as I’ve spoken to family and friends and neighbors at home, is that we face a real risk here if we do not act. That this is an instance where one of the world’s worst dictators has steadily ratcheted up an ascending crescendo of death in his own nation. He began with thugs, police, and the military taking on peaceful demonstrations, graduated to snipers, killing innocent civilians. Has used helicopters and jet fighters against his own people, has deployed cluster bombs and scud missiles. I think over the last two years, there is no doubt that Bashar al Assad and his regime is willing to go to any lengths to stay in power.

So the challenge now for those of us who seek an appropriate path forward is to make sure that we craft an authorization for the use of military force that responds to American’s legitimate concerns but still allows the administration to act in a decisive and timely way to both deter and punish the Assad regime for what they’ve done.

So I have a few questions for you if I might. First to General Dempsey. And I know we’ve spoken to this before, but I think it is worth repeating. How do we strike the right balance between military action that is too insignificant to actually effectively deter or degrade Assad’s capabilities and one that is so decisive and overwhelming that it reaches beyond the scope of an authorization and becomes actually a regime change effort.

GENERAL DEMPSEY: Well, Senator, I won’t recommend an option or a set of targets that won’t effectively deter and degrade. That’s the task that I’ve been given. And now we’ll continue to refine that, not just based on intelligence, but based on the resolution that comes out of this committee.

SENATOR COONS: And could you, in your view, accomplish that mission with an authorization that is limited in scope, in terms of a time duration, and in scope as has been discussed with Secretary Kerry in terms of not introducing U.S. troops on the ground?

GENERAL DEMPSEY: Well, it won’t surprise you to know that as the military leader responsible for this, the more — the broader the resolution, the less limiting, the better off I will be in crafting a set of options. But I completely — I defer to the secretary of state to give me what I need to do then.

SENATOR COONS: Well, if I might then to Secretary Kerry, because our goal here is to not pass or even consider an authorization that is so narrow that it prevents any effective message to be sent here. As you said, in a compelling way in your opening statement, our actions are not just meant to deter Assad but to send a strong message to Pyongyang, to Tehran, to non-state actors around the world who might use chemical weapons or might seek nuclear weapons. How do we craft an authorization, how do we take actions that are effective in deterring other countries that are watching our decisiveness and our action in this instance?

SECRETARY KERRY: I think the language that the administration submitted with respect to the military action necessary to degrade and deter and prevent the use of chemical weapons, specifically, is very targeted.

But as I’ve said several times now and will repeat again, I know the administration has zero intention of putting troops on the ground, and within the confines of this authorization, I’m confident would have zero problem in including some kind of prohibition there, if that makes you comfortable.

I would not urge an excessively pinpointed congressionally mandated set of targets. And I think in the course of the classified briefings, the intelligence community and the military community will make it very clear to you why that’s not advisable. And I think they have to have some — the general needs some latitude here to be able to make sure he can accomplish his task. But I think the broad confines and constraints of this particular operation are not hard for us to arrive at in agreement, and I’m confident we’ll do it very quickly.

SENATOR COONS: Thank you.

One of my other concerns, Mr. Secretary, is the flood of refugees and their impact on the region. In a visit in January to a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, I was moved both by the humanitarian situation they’re facing and by the very real impact that this is having on our regional allies. On Jordan, on Turkey, the destabilizing impact on Lebanon, and of course, the real impact it’s potentially going to have on our close ally, Israel.

I was encouraged to hear there was successful missile defense system test earlier today. Secretary Hagel, what steps are we taking to ensure that our allies in this immediate area of Turkey and Jordan and Israel are able to defend themselves from a potential response by the Assad regime?

SECRETARY HAGEL: Well, Senator, first, Jordan, you know we have Patriot Missile defense batteries in Jordan. And we also are working very closely with the Israelis. You know they have a very sophisticated Iron Dome and aero-system missile defense system. We are in constant coordination with all the allies in the region. And as you may know, General Dempsey was just in Jordan for a commander’s meeting, which included all the senior military from the neighboring countries and our partners. So we are closely connected with and assisting our allies on this and other issues.

SENATOR COONS: Thank you.

Last question, Secretary Kerry, if I might. I am interested in our having a follow-on conversation about how this specific strike and this specific authorization that you’re seeking can also lead to a broader strategy, a strategy for support and engagement with the opposition that will lead to the diplomatic resolution of the Syrian civil war that you’ve spoken about repeatedly.

I don’t think these are mutually exclusive. I do think it’s possible for us to take action that reinforces a global red line against chemical weapons use but to still continue to strengthen and broaden our engagement with the opposition in a way that moves towards a post- Assad Syria that is sustainable and secure. And I look forward to your input with us on your next hearing on that topic.

SECRETARY KERRY: Absolutely, Senator, I look forward to it, too. What I’d like to do is get the whole committee maybe to come down to the department, and we can have this discussion in that confine, as a committee, also. And I think that might be helpful, in addition to what we do in the classified briefing tomorrow.

SENATOR COONS: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, if you want to do that, I’m happy to do that.

Senator Coons congratulates Delaware EPSCoR on launch of climate change project

Senator Coons congratulated Delaware’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Thursday on the launch of its third grant project, and commended the program’s accomplishments over its ten-year history in the state. The National Science Foundation awarded a five-year, $20-million Research Infrastructure Improvement grant to Delaware EPSCoR in June for research focused on sea level rise and renewable energy.

“For ten years, the EPSCoR program has brought Delaware’s best and brightest scientists and educators together to pioneer innovative technologies and train the next generation of experts in rapidly growing fields,” Senator Coons said. “Each successive grant project has expanded our universities’ capacity to produce cutting-edge research, and helped Delaware become a leading hub for science and technology education. This grant will allow Delaware EPSCoR to continue supporting its successful programs and address the critical effects of climate change on our coastal areas.”

Delaware’s project will focus on water quality and renewable-energy use in vulnerable coastal areas subject to pressures from land use and climate changes. The research employs natural, physical, and social science approaches to examine the effects of rising sea levels on the cycling of soil-bound contaminants. The project will also investigate coupled land use and climate change impacts on water and natural systems ranging from tidal wetlands to agricultural land, to densely populated and polluted urban areas. Novel sensors will be developed for environmental monitoring. The project will also address renewable energy, including offshore wind.

The University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wesley College, and Delaware Technical Community College will collaboratively address these themes using innovative research approaches and educational programs. The project includes public outreach activities and partnerships with private industry and government.

EPSCoR is designed to fulfill the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) mandate to promote scientific progress nationwide. Twenty-eight states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam are currently eligible to participate. Through the program, NSF establishes regional partnerships with governments, higher education, and industry that strengthen states’ research and development capacities and boost academic competitiveness. Delaware was designated an EPSCoR state in January 2003, and program grants awarded in 2005 and 2008 have supported two previous projects focused on enhancing environmental science, complex environmental systems, and ecosystem health research.

Delaware was one of only five states awarded an NSF grant for science and engineering academic research.

Senator Coons urges holistic approach to addressing domestic violence

Senator Coons led a conversation with advocates from the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV) on Tuesday that highlighted the public health impacts of domestic violence and the importance of prevention strategies to reduce gender health disparities. The discussion was part of DCADV’s first THRIVE Delaware Conference exploring the health care response to domestic violence.

“Intimate partner violence is more than just a criminal justice or moral issue, it’s a health issue,” Senator Coons said. “Women are five times more likely to be abused by a partner and experience higher levels of disease and disability throughout their lifetimes as a result. We’ve made great inroads against abuse in large part because of the Violence Against Women Act, and this year’s reauthorization will ensure local agencies have the resources they need to support victims, prosecute abusers, and prevent violence. We must continue working together to educate the public, empower victims, punish offenders, and break the cycle of abuse in our communities.”

THRIVE Delaware is a multi-sector collaborative partnership that promotes healthy relationships, individuals, and violence-free environments. The initiative brings together health care providers, policymakers, survivors, advocates, and prevention practitioners across an array of disciplines to address domestic violence as a public health issue.

The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV) launched the THRIVE initiative with the support of two federal grants awarded earlier this year: a $375,000 Project Connect grant from the U.S. Office of Women’s Health and Futures Without Violence and a $1.7 million Delta Focus grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention.

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, Chris worked aggressively to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and earned DCADV’s 2012 Vision of Peace Award for his leadership and sustained commitment to ending domestic violence. He wrote a letter to the CDC in October expressing his strong support for the THRIVE initiative and urging approval of the DCADV’s grant application. Funding from the grant, awarded in March, helped the organization finance Tuesday’s conference.

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: August 19 to August 25

Tuesday, August 20 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will facilitate a discussion at the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s THRIVE Delaware Conference. The conference will address domestic violence as a public health issue and explore the health care response to domestic violence, as well as prevention strategies to reduce gender health disparities. THRIVE Delaware is a multi-sector collaborative partnership that promotes healthy relationships, individuals, and violence-free environments. Hilton Garden Inn, 1706 N. Dupont Hwy, Dover, Delaware – Open to press. Contact 302-658-2958 or thrive@dcadv.org.

Wednesday, August 21 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will deliver remarks at the Delaware Electric Co-Op’s Solar Energy Farm dedication ceremony. The DEC’s new 20-acre solar energy farm features 16,000 Delaware-manufactured solar panels capable of producing enough sustainable energy to power 500 homes. Georgetown, DE – Open to press. Contact Jeremy Tucker at 302-349-3162.

Wednesday, August 21 at 11:45 p.m. – The Senator will tour Beracah Homes and visit with the company’s management team. Beracah Homes is a Delaware-based custom homebuilder that specializes in ranchers, two-story and Cape Cod style homes.  The Senator will tour Beracah’s 120,000 sq. foot production facility, speak with reporters about ways to help create manufacturing jobs, and meet with company employees. 9590 Nanticoke Business Park Dr., Greenwood, DE – Open to press. Contact: Ian Koski at 202-224-4216.

Saturday, August 24 at 8:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend the 5K Run for Water to benefit charity: water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Brandywine Park, Wilmington, DE – Open to press. 

Saturday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m. – The Senator will deliver remarks at India Fest 2013. IndiaFest 2013, sponsored by the Indo-American Association of Delaware, celebrates India’s rich and diverse culture and cuisine. The family extravaganza will feature carnival rides; a zip line; Indian food specialties; jewelry, crafts, and ethnic clothes; cultural pageants; and foot stomping Bollywood dances and Bhangra workouts. Father Tucker Memorial Park W 9^th St. and N. Scott St., Wilmington, DE – Open to press. Contact Vishal at 302-545-5329; Perry 302-540-9105; or Manju 302-234-0214 or iaadnews@gmail.com.

Sunday, August 25 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will deliver remarks at the August Quarterly Worship Service, the penultimate event of Wilmington’s weeklong 200^th Annual August Quarterly Festival. The August Quarterly festival is the nation’s oldest African American festival celebrating religious freedom, freedom of speech and the right of assembly. Chase Center – 800 S. Madison Street, Wilmington, DE– Open to press. Contact William Jones at 302-897-5459.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

The critical nutrient shortage in Delaware’s hospitals

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) drugs play an integral role in the growth and immune system health of newborns and children who cannot digest nutrients on their own. Unfortunately, TPN drugs have been in critical shortage for several months. Since 2010, there have been 300 drug, vitamin, and trace element shortages in the United States, the highest number ever recorded by the University of Utah Drug Information Service.

Prompted by an article entitled, “Children Are Dying”, in the Washingtonian magazine, several Delawareans first brought this issue to Senator Coons’ attention in May. The Senator’s staff subsequently met with representatives of Nemours, a non-profit health organization that operates A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Nemours representatives confirmed that TPN drug shortages are a life-threatening problem for many newborns and are directly affecting the quality of care in neonatal intensive care units in Delaware and across the country.

The shortage began after American Regent, the leading provider of TPN drugs, temporarily halted operations in late 2012 when U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigators found particulate matter in the company’s injectable products. Though the company was set to reopen after 30 days, it is still not fully operational. The FDA is working to import drugs from trusted foreign manufacturers, but has faced challenges due to the strenuous approval process and strict FDA requirements.

Thankfully, in late May, the FDA had a breakthrough with the importation of trace elements and phosphate injections from a Norwegian plant. The agency has also begun importing critical nutrients like calcium chloride and intra-lipids. Although zinc shortages remain an issue, the FDA is continuing to look for new importers and to assist suspended manufacturers in resuming production. While there is no clear indication of when and to what level domestic production will resume, the FDA has made resolving the TPN shortage a top priority. Additionally, various legislative and executive efforts, such as President Obama’s 2011 Executive Order requiring drug manufacturers to notify the FDA when a shortage appeared imminent, have proven successful in enabling the FDA to recognize shortages early and proactively identify alternate drug suppliers and manufacturers.

This is good news for hospitals, like A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital, that treat vulnerable patients like newborns and chronically ill children who rely on TPN drugs for survival. The FDA is continuing to work with domestic drug manufacturers to get operations back online as quickly as possible and ensure that the necessary drugs, vitamins, and trace-elements get to our nation’s hospitals. Our staff will continue to monitor the TPN drug shortage situation and keep Delawareans informed of its progress.