Senator Coons introduces bill to help expand college access for at-risk students

Senator Chris Coons introduced legislation today to help increase the number of low-income students able to access and complete a college education.

The American Dream Accounts Act of 2012 encourages partnerships among schools, colleges, non-profits and businesses to develop secure, Web-based student accounts that contain information about academic preparedness, financial literacy and high-impact mentoring and would be tied to a college savings account.

Instead of approaching these threads independently, this bill connects students, parents and teachers across silos, and takes a small but significant step toward helping more at-risk students of all income levels access, afford and complete a college education. A detailed background document is available here.

“One of the lessons we’ve learned from the recent recession is that unemployment has remained very low among those with a college degree,” Senator Coons said. “Now more than ever, amid intensifying global competition and rapidly changing technology, it’s critical that young people not only finish high school, but pursue some kind of education after high school. American Dream Accounts are a way to strengthen the ability of teachers, parents, mentors, and students to work together to make sure that young people, throughout their entire education experience, prepare for, save for, train for, and then fulfill a vision for their own future — a dream for their life after high school.”

Senator Coons’ legislation is cosponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) will introduce the American Dream Accounts Act in the House of Representatives on Monday.

Sixty-seven percent of Delaware high school students graduate, but the rate drops dramatically in minority communities, with only 57 percent of Hispanic students and 59 percent of African American students earning a high school diploma. American Dream Accounts can help close that gap by giving students motivation and support early on, including the knowledge that scholarships, Pell and SEED grants will be there to support them after high school.

“This concept was inspired by my own experience working with the ‘I Have a Dream Foundation,’ both running a local chapter in Wilmington and, later, working with the national organization,” Senator Coons said. “That organization made a profound impact on low-income children who had family experiences where there was no expectation of college.”

Last month, Senator Coons convened two roundtable meetings of key experts and education leaders in Delaware and Washington in order to get feedback on the American Dream Accounts concept and explore ideas for strengthening the legislation.  He is eager for additional feedback from Delaware parents, students, teachers and other stakeholders. Please click here to share your thoughts directly with Senator Coons.

ICYMI: News Journal editorial voices support for reauthorization of VAWA

The News Journal on Wednesday editorialized on the still-urgent need for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which expired last fall. Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, has been the leading voice in the Senate on the reauthorization. On Tuesday, Senator Coons sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid calling for a floor vote to be scheduled on the bill.

There’s been a lot of debate these days about a war on women with regard to the role of government and their reproductive rights.

But a bill that directly targets the issue of violence against women has been sitting in the U.S. Senate since last fall. And it is grounded in certain merit.

On Tuesday Sen. Chris Coons pushed his colleagues to stop dawdling and reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

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“Thanks in large part to VAWA, we have made great inroads in the fight to combat these crimes — the rate of intimate partner violence against women has declined by 53 percent and there has been a similar decline in violence against men,” wrote Sen. Coons. “Intimate partner violence resulting in death has decreased by 29 percent.”

Locally, VAWA funds paid for law enforcement officials to attend a domestic violence training conference, where they learned about cutting-edge offender risk assessment techniques. As a result, their attendance culminated in passage of a new statewide anti-strangulation law and helped make Delaware a leader in progressive domestic violence legislation.

Click here to read the full editorial on The News Journal’s website.

Click here to read the letter Senator Coons sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging for VAWA reauthorization

Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future

This week, the White House released a one-year progress report on the President’s Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, which identifies steps to help reduce our reliance on foreign oil, save families and businesses money, and make the U.S. a global leader in clean energy.

The President’s plan is critically important for our energy future because it identifies steps to move beyond the piecemeal approach of last several decades and offers a comprehensive set of energy policy goals.

As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Coons is actively engaged in promoting energy security, efficiency, and clean energy innovation.  He believes a clear, cohesive energy policy that includes both the public and the private sector would empower investors, innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop game-changing energy technologies.

In analyzing the White House’s progress report, a few key themes emerge:

Expanding Domestic Production of Oil and Gas and Reducing Imports

Since 2008, the U.S. has increased domestic oil production by more than 12 percent and natural gas production by roughly 15 percent, making America the new world leader in natural gas production.  Currently, we have more oil and gas rigs operating than the rest of the world combined, and we are less dependent on foreign oil than in the last 16 years. 

Chris believes that we must continue to grow our domestic energy production in ways that meets health and safety standards and limits environmental impact.  While greater domestic production will not bring down gas prices overnight, it will contribute to our long-term energy security.  

Establishing New Fuel Economy Standards

This past year, President Obama announced a historic agreement with major automakers to increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light-duty trucks by model year 2025.  The Energy Information Administration’s latest outlook recognized that fuel economy standards have contributed to our increased energy security.

Chris recently joined 29 of his fellow Senators in signing a letter expressing strong support for the new CAFE standards, which  will save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump and reduce oil consumption by 2.2 million barrels a day – more than the total amount we import from OPEC. 

Supporting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Since 2009, the Administration has completed energy upgrades in more than one million homes across the country, many of which will save families over $400 on heating and cooling bills each year.  Due to investments in clean energy, the U.S. has nearly doubled renewable energy generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources since 2008.

Chris is a passionate advocate for clean energy innovation, in particular through the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy. He recently had the opportunity to visit their conference and see cutting-edge energy ideas at work.

Ending Subsidies for Oil and Gas Companies

The President’s FY 2013 budget seeks to eliminate subsides for oil and gas companies that cost American taxpayers $4 billion annually and impede investments in cleaner energy.  Chris agrees these subsidies are a waste of taxpayer dollars and provide unnecessary support for mature energy technology.  He voted last year in favor of the Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act (S. 258) to end these subsidies, and while this vote was unsuccessful, Chris will continue to work to ensure that clean energy industries are not disadvantaged in comparison to the oil and gas industry. 

Consumer Alert: Free credit reports for Delawareans

Senator Coons’ constituent service team is spreading the word: everyone is entitled to a free credit report once per year.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nation’s consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. This legislation also promotes the accuracy and privacy of information held by the consumer reporting companies.

A credit report includes personal information, including your address, how you pay your bills and whether you have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies provide this information to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance or employment.

It is extremely important to review your credit report regularly to make sure all the information is correct. If you spot an inaccuracy, you can work to have it resolved before the bad information impacts your ability to buy or rent a home, open a credit card, or complete other purchases.

To take advantage of your right to a free annual credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can:

• Visit annualcreditreport.com
• Call 1-877-322-8228
• Print and complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form at ftc.gov/credit and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
• Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies directly. They are providing free annual credit reports only through the website, phone number and address listed above.

For more information on accessing your credit report, please click here .

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: March 12 to March 18

Monday, March 12at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate until 4:00 p.m.  Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Tuesday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate until 11:00 a.m.  Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Tuesday, March 13 at 11:30 a.m. — The Senator will preside over the Senate until 12:30 p.m.  Washington, D.C. – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate Gallery.

Wednesday, March 14 at 9:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting.  Key state and local Chambers of Commerce members will be present during the meeting including representatives from the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. S-207 U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. – Closed to press, but photographs and a readout will be made available to Delaware media.

Wednesday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. — The Senator will attend a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing entitled, “Sudan and South Sudan: Independence and Insecurity.” Witnesses testifying at the hearing include: the Honorable Princeton Lyman, Special Envoy for Sudan, U.S. Department of State; George Clooney, Co-founder, Satellite Sentinel Project; and John Prendergast, Co-founder, Satellite Sentinel Project, Enough Project. Senator Coons is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations African Affairs Subcommittee. 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Open to press.

Wednesday, March 14 at 11:00 a.m.  — The Senator will meet with the Delaware League of Local Governments (DLLG). The DLLG is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan association of city, town, village, and county governments established in 1963 to improve and assist local governments through legislative advocacy at the state and federal levels. U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. — Closed to press.

Friday, March 16 at 7:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend a St. Patrick’s Day mass and breakfast in Wilmington. The celebration will include fellowship, Irish song and a parade immediately following mass. St. Patrick’s Church, 15^th and King Street, Wilmington, DE – Open to press. (If the Senate is not in session on Friday.)

Friday, March 16 at 11:30 a.m. – The Senator will attend the grand opening of Stepping Stones Federal Credit Union. With hopes to become a key facet of the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council’s ongoing efforts to give low-income Wilmington residents more banking options and broader sources of business-building financing.  601 North Church Street, Wilmington, DE  – Open to press. (If the Senate is not in session on Friday.)

Friday, March 16 at 3:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Women Veterans Specialty Clinics Addition. The new space provides more than 9,000 square feet of patient care including triage and examination rooms, telemedicine services, waiting lobby with a children’s section and restrooms. Female veterans will receive primary and gender-specific care. Wilmington VA Medical Center, 1601 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE – Open to press. (If the Senate is not in session on Friday.)

Friday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. – The Senator will speak at the 2012 Delaware State Education Association Celebration of Leadership Event.  Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center, Dover, DE – Closed to press. (If the Senate is not in session on Friday.)

Saturday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Main Street Dover’s 17th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Downtown Dover, DE – Open to press. 

Note: Schedule is subject to change

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American Passport Day

Before you plan your trip abroad, you have to make sure your passport is up-to-date. The State Department has designated March 10 as Passport Day to encourage Americans looking to travel overseas to take advantage of this one day offer to apply for their U.S. passport online without an appointment.

Delawareans planning a trip more than two months in advance can apply for standard processing (4-6 weeks) or pay an additional $60 for expedited processing (2-3 weeks, door-to-door). Passport Day events are being held at Regional Passport Agencies and many Passport Acceptance Facilities across the country in communities like yours.

If you’ve been waiting to get your passport, this is the time!

Click here to learn more about how Sen. Coons’ staff can help you obtain a passport or call us at 302-573- 6345

Spring job fairs announced for New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties

The Delaware Congressional Delegation announced they will be hosting three job fairs this spring – one in each of Delaware’s counties.   Businesses looking to hire are encouraged to reserve their spots early and to come prepared to interview talented job seekers who will show up with resumes in-hand.

“Even though the economy has begun to pick up, we can’t stop trying to help our out-of-work neighbors find jobs. It remains my top priority.” Senator Coons said. “Delaware is at its best when it comes together as a community. Nearly 5,000 job seekers came to our job fairs last year, and while I’ve loved hearing from Delawareans who found work at one of them, others still need our help. There are employers right here in Delaware ready to hire, and these job fairs will connect them with talented folks looking for jobs. We received a lot of great feedback about ways to improve on last year’s job fairs, and look forward to applying those lessons at these three fairs.”

Job Fair Schedule and Details:

• Kent County Job Fair: April 23, 2012 at Delaware State University in Dover

• Sussex County Job Fair: April 30, 2012 at Rehoboth Beach Convention Center in Rehoboth Beach
• New Castle County Job Fair: June 18, 2012 at Sheraton Wilmington South in New Castle

In addition to networking with companies looking to hire, job seekers can also take advantage of the myriad workshops, career counseling and resume review opportunities.

For more information or how to participate as an employer or job seekers, please call Senator Coons’ office at 302-573-6345, or email workshop@coons.senate.gov.

Click here to learn more about Senator Coons’ first job fair in Wilmington last April.

Senator Coons encourages blood donation

Senator Coons’ office recently came together to create an employee team for the Blood Bank of Delmarva. It is important to Chris and his staff that Delawareans are aware of the Blood Bank’s life- changing and life-saving work.

The Blood Bank of Delmarva is a non-profit community service organization that provides blood and blood products to 16 hospitals on the Delmarva Peninsula. In the past year, over 50,000 people provided blood donations for over 20,000 recipients.

This is a time when the nation’s blood supply is often experiencing critical shortages. Many people are unaware that much of today’s medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors. About one out of every seven people entering a hospital needs blood.

“Blood donation is about saving lives,” said Chris.  “A member of my staff recently shared with me that her father is here today because of the generosity of blood donors–a sudden illness required that he receive 11 pints of blood.  He was fortunate that blood was available at the time of his emergency because that is not always the case.  In order to keep saving lives, we must continue to encourage others to donate.” 

One pint of blood, the average donation, can save up to three people’s lives. If only an additional one percent of all Americans gave blood, blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future.

Healthy adults who are at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds may donate one pint of blood every two months. The process takes one hour and four easy steps: medical history, quick physical, give blood and snacks.

The Blood Bank of Delmarva operates four blood donor centers throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as well as 32 established mobile donation locations. Check with your company, school, place of worship, or civic organization to see if they host blood drives.

For more information about the Blood Bank, creating a team, or to schedule an appointment to give blood visit: www.delmarvablood.org

Idols against malaria on the Hill

This week, the Malaria No More Policy Center hosted an event on Capitol Hill, recognizing members of Congress committed to fighting malaria around the world. They also brought along some special guests in former American Idol contestants Elliot Yamin (Season 5), Jason Castro (Season 7) and Melinda Doolittle (Season 6).

The Idols have partnered with Malaria No More as they work to reach a goal of near zero malaria deaths by 2015.

Senator Coons, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on African Affairs, also co-chairs the bipartisan Senate Working Group on Malaria.

Malaria, an infectious blood disease spread by mosquitoes, is most prevalent in the developing world, with 90 percent of deaths occurring in Africa.  In June, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution Chris sponsored in support of World Malaria Day, and affirming support for U.S. leadership to combat malaria as a critical component of the President’s Global Health Initiative.

Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) spoke at the event.  The American Idol contestants were vocal about their support for the fight against malaria and were grateful their celebrity gives them a platform from which to speak out for the cause.

Melinda Doolittle recalled a visit from Bono during the filming of American Idol, saying, “He said, ‘you have this platform and millions of people are seeing you sing, but what you are going to do with the platform?’” She cited this question as her inspiration to become more active in the Malaria No More project.

This bipartisan event highlighted the cooperation and support for the fight against malaria on Capitol Hill, and the sense that even in a tough political climate, some issues can still bring people together.

ICYMI: Senator Coons op-ed on efforts to capture LRA leader Joseph Kony

The Huffington Post: Senator Chris Coons wrote an op-ed on Thursday drawing attention to efforts to capture Joseph Kony, the notorious leader of the LRA – an organization that has kidnapped and murdered tens of thousands of people in central Africa.

As we work toward this shared goal, it is essential to be clear about certain facts that may have been blurred these last few days. Joseph Kony’s unconscionable crimes against humanity are not in doubt. Under his leadership, the LRA murdered and kidnapped tens of thousands of people and advanced the use of rape as a weapon of war.  Over two decades, they forced thousands of children to become child soldiers, displaced even more people from their homes and destabilized an entire region.

That’s why President Obama’s decisive action to bring Kony and his top lieutenants to justice is such a critical part of the story.

The Obama Administration has taken steps to “remove Kony from the battlefield,” and it has done so in the right way. In 2010, Congress passed and the President signed legislation authored by former Senator Russ Feingold to express support for increased U.S. efforts to help mitigate and eliminate the threat posed by the LRA.  With this authorization, President Obama deployed 100 American military advisors to central Africa to train and assist regional militaries in their pursuit of Kony. The Administration, with the strong support of Congress, has also taken steps to increase civilian protection, support the desertion of LRA combatants, and provide assistance to populations affected by the LRA.

Click here to read the full op-ed on The Huffington Post.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work on foreign policy.