Senator Coons’ bill to protect White Clay Creek passes the Senate

The Senate on Wednesday night passed Senator Coons’ White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River Expansion Act, S.393, which would add nine miles of White Clay Creek and its tributaries in Delaware and Pennsylvania to an existing Wild and Scenic River designation. This legislation, which is cosponsored by Senators Carper and Casey, will ensure that White Clay Creek continues to be protected as an important resource for Delaware. Legislation like this is part of the Senator’s ongoing effort to preserve and protect important national resources in Delaware.

In 1968, Congress passed the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in order to protect free-flowing rivers with great cultural, recreational, historic, and scenic values. In 2000, Congress designated the majority of White Clay Creek and its tributaries as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Senator Coons’ legislation would increase the total number of protected miles of White Clay Creek and its tributaries to 199, adding the 1.6-mile stretch of Lamborn Run in Delaware and 7.4-miles of stream in Pennsylvania’s New Garden Township. This will help provide more comprehensive protection and preservation for the entire White Clay Creek watershed, an important resource for both Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Home to 33 species of mammals, 21 species of fish including brown and rainbow trout, twenty-seven species of reptiles and amphibians, and over ninety species of birds, the White Clay Creek watershed is an important habitat for Delaware’s wildlife. The protected land also provides recreational opportunities for hikers, cyclists, birders, and hunters.

Growing up, Chris spent a lot of time in White Clay Creek watershed and understands its importance to nearby communities. Years ago, his grandmother donated some of her land along the banks of White Clay Creek to help preserve it. Chris is proud to be a leader of this important legislation that further protects White Clay Creek and its tributaries in a way that does not require spending a single dollar of taxpayer money.

The bill must still be passed in the House of Representatives before it can become law.

Video: Sen. Coons urges colleagues to reform broken immigration system

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) stressed the importance of fixing our nation’s immigration system in a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday. He urged his colleagues to not let partisanship interfere with passing an immigration reform bill that must ‘reflects America’s values and makes our country stronger.’

Senator Coons’ international food aid amendment adopted by Senate

The Senate’s farm bill, passed today, is the primary piece of legislation that establishes United States agricultural and food policy. The 2013 farm bill was strengthened by an amendment introduced by Senator Coons and Senator Johanns, and adopted by a voice vote, that bolsters our international food aid program.  The Coons-Johanns Amendment increases the funding authorization for The Local and Regional Procurement Program, a successful initiative that expedites aid to populations affected by acute and chronic hunger. The increase in funding for the program — from $40 million to $60 million per year — will improve efficiency while supporting the development of food markets in low-income countries.

The Local and Regional Procurement Program is based on a pilot program of the 2008 farm bill to test projects that could get food aid to hungry populations faster and more efficiently. The program accomplishes this by sourcing food in communities and regions closest to those in need. Chris’ amendment improves upon this effort by increasing flexibility for aid providers to use locally and regionally purchased food, an important aspect of U.S. food assistance. The amendment had the backing of over twenty groups, including Oxfam America and Partners in Health.

Senator Coons honors veterans at VFW State Convention

DOVER — Senator Coons honored the memory of two beloved veterans and reasserted his commitment to veterans’ health and employment in remarks delivered to the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Delaware on Saturday.

Chris spoke fondly of his former colleague and friend, Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey — the last World War II veteran in the Senate — who passed away earlier in the week. He also recognized the service and sacrifice of WO1 Sean Mullen, a medic with the Army 2nd Battalion 5th Special Forces Group. WO1 Mullen was on his sixth deployment when his unit was attacked with an IED in Afghanistan Sunday. Senator Coons urged those in attendance to remember and honor the memories of Senator Lautenberg and WO1 Mullen as “symbols of what it means to serve this nation with dedication.”

Senator Coons cautioned that veterans should receive more than just our admiration when they return home — they deserve a Department of Veterans Affairs that is better prepared to provide the care and support they have earned, including faster access to mental health services. Addressing the difficult transition back into civilian life, Chris noted that the suicide rate among veterans has risen from 18 per day in 2011 to a disturbing 22 per day now.

“It’s tragic enough to lose soldiers on the field of battle, but to lose them to the invisible, unhealed wounds of their time in combat is just heartbreaking,” Senator Coons said.

As of last month, more than 700 veterans who had filed first-time disability claims with the Wilmington VA had already waited more than 125 days for a decision, Senator Coons said. Yet even that number pales in comparison to the “unacceptable” national average of 321 days — a wait that “disrespects the service of our veterans.”

Senator Coons described veterans as an enormous asset to American businesses, praising them as highly skilled and tested leaders. Chris cited the Vow to Hire Heroes Act, which he cosponsored, as an example of what must be done to connect veterans with employers, but he said he knows there is far more work to be done. Senator Coons has worked with Senator Carper and Congressman Carney to host more than a dozen job fairs around the state these last three years, including three exclusively for veterans in partnership with Wilmington University. Chris said he intends to continue to organize and host these job fairs to help Delaware’s heroes find work.

Senator Coons also offered his support for the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, which President Obama signed into law earlier in the month. The law makes it a federal crime to claim to hold a military decoration or medal that one did not earn with the intent of profiting from that lie. “Our country needs real heroes, not fake ones, and I’m honored to be standing in a room full of honest-to-God heroes,” Chris said.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: June 10 to June 16

Tuesday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America Citizen of the Year Award dinner. The Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America will recognize Brian DiSabatino, President of EDiS Company & EDiS Building Systems, as the 2013 Citizen of the Year. Chase Center, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.

Wednesday, June 12 at 3:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 4:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Thursday, June 13 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting with reporters who write for African-American publications and those who cover a race beat for national publications.  The African-American Media Roundtable will feature topics including job creation, healthcare, education, and Senate Democrats’ efforts to advance the lives of African-American families. Senator Coons will lead a discussion of the Supreme Court’s consideration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Friday, June 14 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak at a meeting of Delawareans for Environmental and Economic Development. Approximately 50 people are expected to attend, including members of the State and County Chambers of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, and environmental and development interest groups. Frog Hollow Golf Course, Middletown, DE – Closed to press.

Friday, June 14 at 11:30 a.m. — The Senator will tour the Local 199 Laborers’ International Union of North America. 308 Markus Court, Newark, DE – Closed to press.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Senator Coons applauds White House initiative to increase internet connectivity in classrooms

Senator Coons commended President Obama’s announcement last week of a new White House initiative to bring high-speed Internet access to America’s schools.

ConnectED aims to make high-speed digital connections available to 99 percent of America’s students within the next five years in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission.

“ConnectED represents a vital investment in education and our children,” Chris said. “This effort will modernize public schools and enable a vast improvement in the quality and impact of the education our children receive. The presence of better technology in the classroom will open doors to new teaching and learning opportunities and equip students with the skills they need to get good jobs. I commend the President’s leadership and am excited to see ConnectED implemented in the years to come.”

New high-speed Internet connections will allow schools to benefit from the technological invention and innovation of the American private sector. Digital educational content will enable more interactive learning, and Internet-capable educational devices will increase opportunities to take advantage of online learning resources.

In addition to enhancing connectivity, ConnectED will invest in training teachers to use educational technology effectively in the classroom. The Department of Education will work with states and local school districts to increase funding for professional development to support educators in their efforts to use technological tools for teaching.

In Delaware, the State Board of Education, Department of Technology & Information, Department of Education, and Center for Educational Technology have all been working hard on bringing opportunities to increase broadband access and digital technology to schools. ConnectED will build on that momentum and leadership on these issues in Delaware.

ICYMI: Congress is failing to keep domestic surveillance activities in check

Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote an op-ed in Sunday’s News Journal criticizing Congress for “failing to be an effective check” of the warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. Echoing calls he made on the Senate floor on the FISA Amendments Act in December 2012 and the PATRIOT Act in May 2011, Chris called for more transparency, public scrutiny, and Congressional oversight of domestic surveillance programs.

Congress has a responsibility to ensure these surveillance programs are run in a manner that is transparent and accountable. The intelligence community should provide the public with specifics on the full breadth of information that has been captured under the FISA Amendments Act, and what it is doing with that information. The administration should also establish a framework for declassifying FISA court opinions about warrantless wiretapping activities performed under this law. I voted for amendments that would have accomplished both.

Delawareans deserve a full and informed debate about our nation’s intelligence-gathering procedures and their intrusion on our privacy rights, as well as a Congress that insists on keeping our nation safe and respects our most cherished privacy protections.

 Click here to read the full op-ed on the News Journal’s website.

Governors of 23 states call for MLP parity

A coalition of governors from 23 states wrote to Senator Coons Thursday to thank him for his efforts to create cheaper, cleaner energy. In the letter, the governors called for the passage of the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act. The legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

The bill would make it easier and cheaper for investors to fund a broad range of clean energy projects including wind, solar, fuel cells, and energy efficient buildings. The Governors Wind Energy Coalition’s letter states that “the Master Limited Partnership structure can help reduce the cost of capital and attract more investors to our states.”

The legislation expands access to a business structure known as “master limited partnerships.” Since 1987, the ability to form a master limited partnership has been mostly limited to projects involving oil and gas pipelines. This has allowed those industries to explode in size and attract huge amounts of investment. This letter reflects that the reality that equal access to financing for all sources of energy makes sense, regardless of party or regional affiliation. From Hawaii to Iowa and from Maryland to Montana, governors see that master limited partnerships make sense and passage of Senator Coons’ legislation is a step towards a better energy future.

The following states are members of the Governors Wind Energy Coalition: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Washington

Senator Coons helps reintroduce bill to prevent LGBT bullying in schools

Senator Chris Coons teamed up with 30 of his colleagues to reintroduce the Student Non-Discrimination Act on Tuesday to help protect public school students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Bullying is destroying the lives of too many children and ripping the fabric of our communities apart,” Chris, an outspoken advocate on LGBT issues, said. “We must protect students from these harmful acts and ensure all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are able to learn in an environment that’s free from discrimination. I encourage my colleagues to stand on the side of equality.”

In addition to being reintroduced on its own, the Student Non-Discrimination Act was added to the Strengthening All Schools Act, which would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act — widely known as “No Child Left Behind.”  The Strengthening All Schools Act was also introduced Tuesday.

Surveys indicate that nearly eight in 10 LGBT students have been bullied. The harassment LGBT youth experience in school deprives them of equal educational opportunities by increasing their likelihood of skipping school, underperforming academically, and eventually dropping out. It can also have a detrimental effect on their physical and mental health. Left unchecked, this harassment can lead to life-threatening violence and suicide.

Under current law, students are protected from discrimination based on gender, race, national origin, and disability but not sexual orientation or gender identity.  The Student Non-Discrimination Act would establish a comprehensive federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

The legislation would also forbid schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior.

Modeled after Title IX, violation of the Student Non-Discrimination Act would result in the loss of federal funding and give victims a legal cause of action for discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) first introduced the legislation in 2010 and reintroduced it in 2011 when Chris was an original cosponsor of the bill.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: June 3 to June 9

Tuesday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Budget Committee hearing, “The Fiscal and Economic Effects of Austerity.” The Committee will receive testimony from:  Larry Summers, PhD, Harvard University; Simon Johnson, PhD, MIT Sloan School of Management and Peterson Institute for International Economics; and Salim Furth, PhD, The Heritage Foundation. 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. – Open to press.

Tuesday, June 4 at 4:00 p.m. — The Senator will join the Congressional delegation in hosting a reception honoring the young Delawareans who’ve received Congressional nominations and accepted their appointment to the U.S. Service Academy academies. SVC-201/00, Capitol Visitors Center, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate until 4:00 p.m. Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Thursday, June 6 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.

Friday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. – The Senator will speak at a Food Bank of Delaware event unveiling its new mobile pantry vehicle. Bank of America has donated $50,000 to support the new mobile pantry vehicle to help 30 to 35 individuals receive assistance and educational information at each designated pantry distribution. 1624 Jessup Street, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.

Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the unveiling of Justin E. Townsend’s name being added to the Delaware Firemen’s Memorial in Dover. Park Drive and Mirror Lake, Dover, DE – Open to press.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

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