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Senator Coons named chair of Judiciary Subcommittee on Bankruptcy & the Courts

Senator Chris Coons has been named chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Bankruptcy and the Courts for the 113th Congress, giving him oversight of the nation’s bankruptcy court system, as well as court administration and management, judicial rules and procedures, the creation of new courts and judgeships, and legal reform and liability issues.

“I am honored by Chairman Leahy’s decision to entrust the Bankruptcy and the Courts Subcommittee to my leadership and thank the full Committee for endorsing that action,” Chris said. “Americans find themselves in contact with the courts when they are at their most vulnerable — usually when they’ve been hurt by someone, find themselves unable to pay their debts, or have been accused of failing to meet their legal obligations to others. We must be mindful that Americans rely on courts to help them when disputes do arise and it is imperative that the courts are able to resolve them fairly, efficiently, and at a minimum of cost and inconvenience to all concerned. I take this obligation seriously.

“Over the course of this Congress, I hope to examine a broad range of issues that fall under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy and the Courts Subcommittee. We have a judicial vacancy crisis in many parts of this country, and I’d like to look at what can be done to address it. Our federal courts have traditionally been the last bastion for many Americans to assert their civil rights, but recent federal court decisions have made it harder to not only enforce federal civil rights, but also rights that people may have as a consumer or as an employee under state law. That has to change.

“The subcommittee also has jurisdiction over the Bankruptcy Code.  Delaware has a well-established and respected bankruptcy bench and bar, and I look forward to working with Delaware experts to make sure that our bankruptcy system resolves cases predictably and with the proper balance between the interests of creditors and debtors.

“Finally, I look forward to working with Senator Sessions as my ranking member,” Senator Coons said. “Senator Sessions is a respected member of the Judiciary Committee and this will be the seventh consecutive Congress during which he has served as either ranking member of chairman of this subcommittee. I look forward to his guidance and expertise as we work together to shape the subcommittee’s agenda.”

Senator Coons has served on the Senate Judiciary Committee since being sworn-into office in November 2010.

Judiciary Committee hearing addresses gun violence

The Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing on Wednesday to address gun violence and how to prevent future gun related deaths in America. Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and founder of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, attended the hearing and questioned the panel of witnesses who represent the fields of law enforcement, gun control advocacy, and gun rights advocacy.

Chris stated during the hearing that “too many incidents [of gun violence] pile on year upon year.” He is all too familiar with how gun violence is harming our communities, especially in his hometown of Wilmington. Since the start of the 113th Congress, Chris has already cosponsored several bills to prevent gun violence, including: the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act, and the Gun Show Background Check Act.

Chris is a strong believer in universal effective background checks. During the hearing, Chris questioned Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.), Americans for Responsible Solutions, about his views on how expanded background checks would help prevent guns from getting in the hands of dangerous people. Captain Kelly, husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in a parking lot in 2011 while talking with constituents in Tuscon, Arizona, stated that: “Eighty percent of criminals got their guns from a private sale or transfer that required no background checks.  In the case of Congresswoman Giffords’ shooting, Captain Kelly stated, “If there was an effective background check in Tucson showing a history of mental health data and drug use and if there wasn’t a gun show loophole [the shooter] would have had a hard time getting a gun.”

Senator Coons said he was grateful for the work the National Rifle Association has done to provide training in safe gun ownership for Americans.  Still, he challenged the CEO of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, on his earlier comment that expanded background checks are not needed because criminals will always find a way to get a gun.  Senator Coons noted that, even if imperfect, a quick background check could help save lives.  LaPierre responded that he believes background checks will create too much unnecessary bureaucracy.

James Johnson, Chief of Police for the Baltimore County Police Department and Chair of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence said that he disagrees with Mr. LaPierre’s statement on background checks.  He stated “public safety and police are unified that a universal background check would make our society a safer place and make my police officers safer.”

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work with our law enforcement to improve public safety.  

Four-year anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, as seen on Twitter

Video: Senate Colloquy on the Immigration Innovation Act

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) participated in a bipartisan Senate colloquy with Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Tuesday to discuss the introduction of their bill, the Immigration Innovation (I2) Act of 2013, which would bring long-overdue reforms to the nation’s immigration laws for high-skilled workers and maintain the United States’ global leadership in innovation.

The Senator’s Week Ahead Schedule: Jan. 28 – Feb. 3

The Week Ahead

Monday, January 28 at 7:30 a.m. — The Senator will give the keynote address at a breakfast benefiting the Del-Mar-Va Council of Boy Scouts. The Del-Mar-Va Council provides Scouting opportunities throughout the Delmarva Peninsula, serving approximately 388 units and more than 4,500 volunteers who are delivering the promise to more than 10,000 youth in traditional Scouting programs. Ed Oliver Golf Course, 800 North Dupont Road, Wilmington, DE – Closed to press.

Tuesday, January 29 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting. S-116, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, January 30 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, “What Should America Do About Gun Violence?” Witnesses that are confirmed to testify during the hearing include: CPT. Mark Kelly, Americans for Responsible Solutions; Nicholas Johnson, Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law; James Johnson, Chief of Police, Baltimore County Police Department, and Chair, National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence; Gayle Trotter, Attorney and Senior Fellow, Independent Women’s Forum; and Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, National Rifle Association. 216 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, January 30 at 2:15 p.m. – The Senator will speak at a “State of the Business” meeting hosted by The Real Estate Roundtable. The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly held and privately owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.  325 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Wednesday, January 30 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, January 31 at 8:30 a.m. – The Senator will cohost a U.S. Global Leadership Coalition breakfast for freshman senators to talk about the importance of the international affairs budget. The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition is a broad-based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic and community leaders in all 50 states who support a smart power approach of elevating diplomacy and development alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world. 383 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press.

Thursday, January 31 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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What We’re Reading: High school graduation rate is highest in 40 years

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The Washington Post published an article on Tuesday reporting that the percentage of students at public high schools who graduate on time has reached its highest level in nearly 40 years. According to research conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, 78 percent of students across the nation in the Class of 2010 are estimated to have earned a diploma within four years of starting high school. The last time the graduation rate was at that level was in 1974.

High school graduation rates are one measure of school success, and educators and policymakers have been trying for decades to stem the number of U.S. students who drop out of high school.

……

High school graduation rates have a significant effect on the economy, according to a study last year by America’s Promise Alliance, a foundation created by Colin L. Powell. On average, high school graduates earn $130,000 more over their lifetimes than peers who drop out of school, the study said.

Senator Coons has made education reform a priority. In March, he introduced the American Dream Accounts Act to help increase the number of low-income students able to access and complete a college education after graduating from high school.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work towards increasing college access.

Click here to read the full article on the Washington Post’s website.

Video: Sen. Coons questions John Kerry during Senate Foreign Relations nominations hearing

Senator Chris Coons questioned Senator John Kerry, nominee to be U.S. Secretary of State, at a Senate Foreign Relations nominations hearing on Thursday. Senator Coons, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, specifically asked what Senator Kerry would do to stem the influence China has on Africa’s economy, and prevent the exploitation of Africa’s resources and wildlife for illegal trade. Senator Coons recently visited several Middle Eastern countries with a bipartisan group of senators, during which time he visited a refugee camp in Syria. Senator Coons questioned Senator Kerry how he, as Secretary of State, would support the opposition forces in Syria now that the American government has recognized them.   

What We’re Reading: Ten foreign policy problems Obama could solve now

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Foreign Policy Magazine published an article in its January/February edition entitled, “10 Problems Obama Could Solve Right Now.” The piece features recommendations from ten foreign policy thought leaders on challenges they believe President Obama could solve in his second term.

One of the ten problems that could be addressed, according to John Prendergast, author of Unlikely Brothers and co-founder of the Enough Project and the Satellite Sentinel Project, is the capture of Joseph Kony and leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) who have committed crimes against humanity in Central Africa.

Here are three things Obama and his team can do to really bring Kony to justice:

First, Obama needs to strengthen the existing effort to weaken the LRA. This will require more African forces where the LRA is actually operating, backed by expanded human intelligence networks through improved programs to support defectors and more international support for affected communities.

Second, Obama should push for a high-level diplomatic initiative to be launched by the AU and the United Nations to gain access to the areas of the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan that are currently LRA safe havens. If the regime in Khartoum continues to deny access, stronger measures — such as U.N. targeted sanctions, an investigation into those providing sanctuary to Kony, and cross-border operations inside Sudan under the international “responsibility to protect” doctrine — should be considered.

Third, Obama should help the AU build an elite special-operations unit — trained, equipped, and working in close cooperation with U.S. military advisors — to directly target Kony and his top deputies. Although some rebel groups continue operating after their leader is removed from the battlefield, the LRA is so tied to Kony’s personality and leadership that his demise or capture would most likely put an end to the group’s activities.

Senator Coons has been a leader in the Senate in calling for Joseph Kony and members of the LRA to be brought to justice. In August, the Senate passed a resolution Chris introduced which condemns the crimes committed by the LRA.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to stop Joseph Kony and the LRA

Click here to read the full article on Foreign Policy’s website.

Senator Coons supports improvements to mental health services in criminal justice system

Senator Chris Coons joined colleagues of both political parties to support legislation that would improve access to mental health services for people who come into contact with the criminal justice system and provide law enforcement officers the tools they need to identify and respond to mental health issues in the community.  

People with mental health conditions are disproportionately arrested and incarcerated. In fact, the president of the Major Counties Sheriffs Association recently estimated that up to 30% of inmates under his supervision have mental health conditions. Using our criminal justice system as a mental health system places our law enforcement officers in danger, inundates our courts with cases involving the mentally ill, and is costly to taxpayers who foot the bill for high incarceration costs and overcrowded correction facilities.

The Justice & Mental Health Collaboration Act (JMHCA), which was introduced on Wednesday by Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) and cosponsored by Senator Coons, attempts to fix these problems by reauthorizing and improving the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA).

JMHCA will:

• Continue support for mental health courts and crisis intervention teams, both of which save lives and money;

• Emphasize evidence-based practices that have been proven effective through rigorous study;

• Authorize investments in veterans treatment courts, which serve arrested veterans who suffer from PTSD, substance addiction, and other mental health conditions;

• Support the development of curricula for police academies and orientations;

• Increase focus on corrections-based programs, like transitional services that reduce recidivism rates and screening practices that identify inmate with mental health conditions; and

• Give local officials greater control over program participation eligibility.

Both MIOTCRA and JMHCA are bipartisan pieces of legislation that have received support in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.  Across the country, 170 organizations have endorsed JHMCA, including leading law enforcement and corrections groups, veterans’ services organizations, and mental health advocates.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to help our law enforcement officers.  

Forty years of Roe v. Wade

For 40 years, the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade has protected the right of women in Delaware and around the country to make their own decisions about reproductive health and family planning.

As we mark the anniversary of this landmark decision, we must redouble our efforts to protect this fundamental right and to ensure that women and families have access to safe and affordable reproductive health care, no matter where they live or what their income level.

Although Roe v. Wade is settled law, the rights that it protects remain under assault. In the past two years, 30 states have passed 135 new laws restricting access to abortion – despite the fact that 63 percent of Americans do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned.

It is therefore critical that we remain vigilant about protecting the rights of women and their families to make their own private health care decisions, and to ensure accessible and affordable reproductive care for Delawareans and all Americans.