Senator Coons’ bill to protect White Clay Creek passes committee

On Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved legislation Senator Coons authored to add approximately nine miles of White Clay Creek and its tributaries to the existing Wild and Scenic Rivers designation for the waterway.

The White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River Expansion Act of 2013 now awaits consideration by the full Senate, which passed this legislation with bipartisan support during the last Congress.

 “Growing up, I spent considerable time in the White Clay Creek watershed and know that it is an important resource for Delaware and the region,” Chris said.  “Years ago, my grandmother donated some of her land along the banks of White Clay Creek to help protect it. It is up to all of us to fight to protect our natural resources.”

The 69,000-acre White Clay Creek watershed is home to 33 species of mammals, 21 species of fish, 27 species of reptiles and amphibians, and over 90 species of birds. White Clay Creek is also stocked with brown and rainbow trout, and is an important resource for fishermen. Protected land in the watershed also provides recreational opportunities for hikers, bikers, birders, hunters, and others. White Clay Creek and the Cockeysville aquifer that lies beneath portions of the watershed are important sources of drinking water for over 128,000 citizens in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The Energy and Natural Resources also voted to pass the First State National Historical Park Act on Thursday. This bill, authored by Senator Tom Carper and strongly supported by Chris, will bring Delaware one step closer to its first national park.

Senator Coons advances effort to make voting faster, more accessible for all Americans

In Thursday’s marathon session of discussions about the budget and our national priorities, the Senate Budget Committee approved an amendment authored by Senator Coons to create a deficit-neutral reserve fund to make voting faster and more accessible for all Americans.

Passage of this amendment by the Budget Committee signals new momentum for the Louis L. Redding Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely (FAST) Voting Act – legislation Chris introduced to address the extraordinarily long lines and myriad of other voting issues that came up last Election Day in more than a dozen states.

 “Making it harder for citizens to vote is a violation of their civil rights,” Chris said when he re-introduced the bill this January. “The 2012 elections were a wakeup call. All over the country, in red states and blue states, Americans saw their fundamental right to vote eroded by exceptionally long lines, confusing rules and voting machine malfunctions. We have to do better than this. The FAST Voting Act is a creative way to jumpstart states’ election reform efforts.”

The amendment passed on Thursday calls for a non-mandate approach that is consistent with the FAST Voting Act, which would create a competitive grant program in the model of Race to the Top, encouraging states to aggressively pursue election reform. The states that demonstrate the most comprehensive and promising reform plans will earn a greater portion of the grant funding.

Click here to read more about the FAST Voting Act. This legislation was endorsed by the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Video: Senator Coons calls for protecting our local poultry

U.S. Senator Chris Coons spoke on the Senate floor on Tuesday to talk about the importance of protecting and strengthening our local poultry industries.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: March 11 – March 17

Tuesday, March 12 at 9:45 a.m. — The Senator will speak at the annual meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States. He will deliver remarks on the judicial vacancy crisis in the federal courts. The Judicial Conference is the principal policy-making body on the administration of the U.S. Courts. Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Tuesday, March 12 at 10:15 a.m. – The Senator will participate in a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. The committee will consider six nominations and will continue markup of four bills to address gun violence during the meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact: Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Tuesday, March 12 at 12:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 12:30 p.m.  Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Tuesday, March 12 at 2:45 p.m. — The Senator will speak to members of the Delaware Farm Bureau in Washington for their annual Capitol Hill visit. SVC-201-100, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, March 13 at 9:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting on workforce development.  The discussion will focus on best practices for strengthening public/private partnerships that train Americans for the well-paying jobs of the 21st century. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m. — The Senator will participate in a Senate Budget Committee business meeting. The committee will hear opening statements on the Senate’s budget resolution. 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. — Open to press. Contact: Budget Committee’s Eli Zupnick at 202-224-5398.

Thursday, March 14 at 9:00 a.m. — The Senator will participate in a Senate Budget Committee business meeting. The committee will vote on amendments to the Senate’s budget resolution. 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. — Open to press. Contact: Budget Committee’s Eli Zupnick at 202-224-5398.

Thursday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will participate in a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. The committee is expected to continue work on legislation to address gun violence. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press. Contact: Judiciary Committee’s Jessica Brady at 202-224-7703.

Thursday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. — The Senator will participate in a Senate Budget Committee business meeting. The committee will continue voting on amendments to the Senate’s budget resolution. 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. — Open to press. Contact: Budget Committee’s Eli Zupnick at 202-224-5398.

Thursday, March 14 at 5:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend University of Delaware Day in D.C. The widely successful annual reception showcases University of Delaware’s leadership in federally funded projects with more than 25 interactive displays on research occurring at the University.  325 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Friday, March 15 at 9:00 a.m. — The Senator will host a press conference unveiling two new AmeriCorps projects in Delaware. Senator Coons will join Governor Markell, Senator Carper, and Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, to mark AmeriCorps Week and make two announcements. Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club, 669 South Union Street, Wilmington, DE – Open to press.

Friday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.– The Senator will attend the investiture ceremony for the Honorable Vivian l. Rapposelli who will be sworn-in to serve on the Supreme Court for the state of Delaware. 500 North King Street, Wilmington, DE — Open to press.

Sunday, March 17 at 3:30 p.m.– The Senator will attend the 7th annual Finer Womanhood High Tea. The event is hosted by the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Rho Zeta Chapter with a portion of the proceeds will benefiting the Katherine B. Ross Scholarship Fund. Hotel Dupont, Wilmington, DE.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

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AmeriCorps Week service opportunities

In honor of AmeriCorps Week, which begins Saturday, Senator Coons is encouraging Delawareans to join those serving their communities at one of several AmeriCorps service projects around the state next week. It is also a moment to appreciate the important work done by AmeriCorps members in Delaware and across the country since the national service program was founded 19 years ago.

“Those who devote themselves to serving our communities are brightening the lives of everyone they help and improving the quality of living in our state,” Senator Coons said. “The work AmeriCorps members are doing in Delaware, such as improving parks, tutoring children, and working with the homeless, has made a tremendous impact on an array of needs in our community. I thank the AmeriCorps members who have served in Delaware and encourage all who are considering serving to check out an event to learn more about how they can give back.” 

AmeriCorps Week is an annual event designed to salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their service, thank AmeriCorps’ community partners, and recognize AmeriCorps’ impact on communities and on the lives of those who serve.  Hundreds of events are taking place across the United States.

The following events are taking place in Delaware during the week of March 11:

Monday, March 11: Habitat for Humanity, A Brush With Kindness, Seaford    

Habitat for Humanity has a build project on King Road, Seaford, DE.  AmeriCorps members will serve from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Monday, March 11: Habitat for Humanity, A Brush With Kindness, Laurel

Project will assist a homeowner with disabilities at 9946 Cedar Street, Laurel, DE.  Work begins at 9:00 a.m. and cleanup will take place around 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12: The Caring Corps, Wilmington

The Caring Corps will host a service event assisting the homeless at Samaritan Outreach and Distribution Center, 1410 North Claymont Street, Wilmington, DE from 10:00a.m.- 3:00 p.m.            

Wednesday, March 13: Emergency Services Corps, Wilmington

The Emergency Services Corps will clean up the Cranston Heights Fire Company at 3306 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 14: Connecting Generations, Dover

The Youth Ambassadors program is sponsoring a number of projects including painting murals, building picnic tables and general clean-up of Central Middle School, 211 Delaware Avenue, Dover, DE from 9:00am to2:00pm

Friday, March 15: Emergency Services Corps, Wilmington

The Emergency Services Corps will clean up the Christiana Fire Company’s fire trucks and gear at 2 East Main Street, Christiana, DE from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday, March 15: Totally Awesome Players, Wilmington

The Totally Awesome Players event will bring volunteers together to spread the word around the Wilmington community about the local theatre program for young people with intellectual disabilities. The location of the event is the Delaware Theater Company, 200 Water Street, Wilmington, DE. The event will take place from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Video: Senator Coons issues recommendations on boosting trade with Africa

Senator Coons unveiled an 18-page report detailing recommendations for boosting U.S. trade with Africa on Thursday, convening a press conference in the Capitol to unveil it. Standing with him to talk about the report and about why stronger African economies benefit the United States were Kenyan Ambassador to the United States Elkanah Odembo, the Chamber of Commerce’s Scott Eisner, and the Corporate Council on Africa’s Stephen Hayes. Videos of each of their remarks are below.

Senator Coons’ remarks in announcing the report are below:

His Excellency Elkanah Odembo, Ambassador of Kenya to the United States:

Scott Eisner, Vice President for African Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

Stephen Hayes, President of the Corporate Council on Africa:

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: March 4 – March 10

Monday, March 4 at 8:00 a.m. — The Senator will speak to the Congressional Club at the AIPAC Policy Conference breakfast. Senator Coons will discuss the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press. 

Wednesday, March 6 at 9:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting on labor in the United States.  The senators will be joined by labor rights stakeholders in holding a meeting focused on job creation, workers’ rights, comprehensive immigration reform, and upcoming budget negotiations. U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, March 6 at 9:30 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Committee will receive testimony from U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, March 6 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will host a Senate Law Enforcement Caucus event on the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. The event will highlight Delaware’s success in passing a criminal justice reform bill through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. In addition to Senator Coons, who is the co-chair and founder of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, the following law enforcement leaders and advocates will attend the event: Alison Shames, Associate Director, Center on Sentence and Corrections, VERA; Drew Fennell, Executive Director, Criminal Justice Council of Delaware; Col. Thomas MacLeish, (Ret.) Superintendent of State Police, Delaware; Rep. John Tilley, Kentucky House District 8 Representative. 385 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, March 6 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, March 7 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting. The committee will consider six nominations and four bills during the meeting. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Thursday, March 7 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.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

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Senator Coons applauds new strategy for combatting trade secret theft

Senator Coons welcomed an announcement last week from U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) Victoria Espinel on the Obama Administration’s new strategy to mitigate the theft of U.S. trade secrets.  

Trade secrets are advancements that enable a business to improve a product or make it more quickly or more efficiently. For example, the weaving technology that allows Delaware’s own DuPont to turn strands of fiber into Kevlar body armor is a trade secret.

IPEC’s development of this strategy reflects the diversity of American interests impacted by trade secret theft and involved the collaboration of the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, State, Treasury, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Office of the United States Trade Representative. 

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chris has been working to protect American intellectual property and prevent the theft of trade secrets, which cost U.S. companies billions of dollars each year and threaten their ability to innovate and compete globally.

The Administration’s strategy recognizes that trade secrets play a crucial role in the U.S. economy and takes steps to guard against threats to American innovation and competitiveness, whether they come from foreign companies or foreign governments. The strategy calls for enhanced domestic law enforcement operations, industry-led efforts to develop best practices to protect trade secrets and a review of our existing intellectual property laws to determine whether Congress should make any changes to enhance enforcement. 

Chris co-sponsored legislation President Obama signed into law, the Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act, to bolster criminal penalties for economic espionage.  He also plans to introduce legislation to create a federal civil private right of action for trade secret theft to provide businesses with a uniform, reliable, and predictable way to protect their valuable trade secrets anywhere in the country.   

55 employers will be at New Castle County job fair next Wednesday

NEWARK – Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney announced on Wednesday that 55 employers from around the region have already signed up for their New Castle County job fair next Wednesday, March 6. Combined, the employers are hiring for about 600 open positions across an array of skill sets.

The New Castle County job fair is being organized with Brandywine Counseling and will be held at the Embassy Suites in Newark from 10 am to 2 pm.

Some employers already registered for next week’s fair include:

Private Companies: Advanced Student Transportation, Telamon Corporation (Head Start), Bayada Home Care, Griswold Special Care, Home Instead Senior Care, Interim Healthcare, AFLAC, AVON, Dr. Energy Saver (Delmarva Energy), Metro Merchant Services, Prominent Insurance, Viridian Energy, APM Inc., Prince Telecom, Playtex, Markatos Services Inc., AAA Club Partners, Discover Financial Services, Goodwill of Delaware, Metro Merchant Services, SafeLink Wireless, American Registry of Pathology, Beasley Broadcast Group, Massage and Reflexology of Delaware, New Behavioral Network, Tech Impact, WSFS Bank, Bank of America, Citi, Diamond State Financial Group, New York Life, Sallie Mae, Waddell and Reed Inc.

Government Agencies: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Delaware National Guard, State of Delaware, Delaware Department of Transportation, State of Delaware Office of Volunteerism, New Castle County Government, Dover Police Department, New Castle County Police

Additionally, the following organizations will have tables at the fair on their offerings for job seekers:

University of Delaware Transition to Teaching Partnership, Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification, Delaware Department of Labor/Vocational Rehabilitation Division, Delaware Department of Labor, Clarifi, Right Management.

In addition to networking with employers looking to hire, job seekers will also be able to participate in job-search skills workshops, career counseling, and have their resumes reviewed by experts.

Senator Carper, Senator Coons, and Congressman Carney will host additional job fairs in Sussex County in April and in Kent County in June.

For more information on how to participate as a job seeker, please call 302-573-6345 or email workshop@coons.senate.gov.

Senator Coons hosts screening of NatGeo documentary on illegal ivory trade

This afternoon, Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the African Affairs Subcommittee, hosted an advanced screening of the National Geographic film “Battle for the Elephants” in the Capitol Visitors Center.

“Battle for the Elephants” follows investigative journalists Brian Christy and Adrian Hartley as they examine the criminal networks and market forces fueling ivory’s global supply and demand. In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, one of the world’s main ports for smuggled ivory, Hartley poses as an ivory buyer and documents poachers negotiating the sale of large quantities of tusks. In Hong Kong and Beijing, China, Christy explores the thriving industry of luxury goods made from ivory and the ancient cultural tradition of ivory carving.  Following the screening, Christy joined the film’s producers and director to answer questions and share insights about the experience of tracking ivory, as well as steps the international community can take to end this destructive trade.

Last May, this issue was the topic of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled Ivory and Insecurity: The Global Implications of Poaching in Africa. Since that time, elephant poaching on the continent has reached unprecedented levels.

Senator Coons’ office will host a Delaware screening of the film at the Penn Cinema Riverfront on May 13 at 6 PM. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Katie Carpenter, one of the film’s two producers and a Wilmington native, and John Heminway, the film’s director. The Penn Cinema Riverfront is located at 401 S. Madison Street in Wilmington. The event is open to the public.