DSU a big part of NASA’s new mission to Mars

NASA's Mars Curiosity rover

Senator Coons congratulated Delaware State University for their research and development of lasers to be used on NASA’s Curiosity Rover mission to Mars. Scheduled to launch November 25, the rover will contain a ChemCam instrument that was partially developed at DSU and uses lasers and spectroscopy to analyze the contents of rocks on the surface of Mars.

Dr. Noureddine Melikechi — who is the founder of the DSU Optics Research Program where the research took place — worked with NASA in connection with the upcoming launch. Alissa Mezzacappa, a DSU Ph.D candidate in optics and a graduate research assistant, assisted Dr. Melikechi. The two of them are in Cape Canaveral to witness the launch in person.

An ardent supporter of science, technology, engineering and math education, and a lifelong fan of NASA and the space sciences, Chris is extremely proud of DSU’s involvement in the project. Historically, NASA’s missions have cultivated American’s hope and wonderment about our vast universe and has inspired many young people to pursue a career in the sciences.

The involvement of DSU in the Mars mission is the latest accomplishment of the University’s prolific Optics Program. The Optics Program received a $5 million grant to work on a $2.5 billion space project with a large team of scientists from throughout the United States and France.

With a focused vision, Dr. Melikechi methodically worked to maximize every new opportunity and each research success. Founded as a one-person project in 1995, Dr. Melikechi expanded DSU’s Optics Research Program to include 12 professors, 18 graduate students and two post-doctoral researchers. It will soon move into a new, 65,000-square-foot building, supported by $10 million in state funding and millions more in private bonds DSU plans to raise.

Click here to learn more about the “DSU goes to Mars” mission.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to improve education.

What you said

In the week since I teamed up with Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida to introduce the American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Act — the AGREE Act — I’ve heard from a great number of Delawareans.

We’re doing our best to respond to each submission, but I wanted to take a moment to share some of the feedback we received from Delawareans since I wrote you last week. As expected, it has been both insightful and extremely candid!

Robert from Magnolia wrote:

I think it is very good first step in getting the economy going again. Naturally more has to be done but this bill would demonstrate that bipartisan approach is the correct way forward. I have been critical of some of your past emails on varying subjects, but this time you are right on.

Harry, a veteran from Ocean View, wrote:

You would be doing the USA a great service, let alone the veterans, if you would continue to come up with incentives to get our veterans working. If you think the veterans of WWII did wonders, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet when it comes to today’s veterans – collectively, they are smart, highly motivated, disciplined, dynamic, forward thinking, creative, resourceful, highly patriotic and know well the value of teamwork – and they want the work. I have the highest regard for these highly professional young men and women and am positive they have what it takes to help get this country moving again. It’s not so much that this country owes them a job, it’s more that we need those folks to get into the workforce to set examples and to help getting us back on track.

Michelle from Clayton wrote:

It’s about time somebody stood up for small businesses. Small business is at the heart of what America stands for. Thank you so much for trying to get some tax relief for us! It’s about time someone did. This bill is a win-win for everyone.

Several folks wrote to me asking about how we intend to pay for the AGREE Act. They’re right – it’s an important question. We’ll soon submit the bill for scoring by the Congressional Budget Office and then will work with the appropriate committees to find offsets.

I’ve enjoyed reading your comments, and appreciate the time you and others take to engage with me. Most importantly, I look forward to continuing to work with you on strengthening our economy and getting more of our neighbors back to work.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Commemorating 100 years of fish and wildlife conservation

Senator Coons celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Fish and Wildlife Division

WILMINGTON — Senator Coons, Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara and former Congressman Mike Castle celebrated 100 years of fish and wildlife conservation in Delaware on Monday. The milestone was marked at a ceremony at the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington along side staff of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and representatives of various conservation groups.

“For the past 100 years, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has protected a wealth of natural resources in our great state,” said Chris. “Delaware’s natural resources support countless recreational activities that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, which helps support local businesses and our regional economy. I congratulate the Division of Fish and Wildlife for 100 years of building a true conservation success story.”

DNREC highlighted several of its conservation success stories in the First State, including:

Restoration of many species of fish and wildlife including deer, turkey, bald eagle, striped bass and summer flounder populations;
Acquisition of thousands of acres of land and waterways for habitat conservation, management, restoration and public use;
Habitat management and restoration on thousands of acres of private lands and waterways;
Statewide quality outdoor recreation and access for resident and visiting anglers, hunters, nature enthusiasts and the general public;
Environmentally compatible mosquito control;
A modern and professional enforcement section that protects our resources and improves boating safety.

The celebration also included the planting of a native Delaware sycamore tree in an area on the refuge that was recently cleared of invasive plant species. A total of 100 special trees were planted on the Peterson Refuge to mark the anniversary.

Statement by Senator Coons on the supercommittee’s failure to reach a deal

Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, was disappointed by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction’s unwillingness and inability to reach a final agreement on a package of deficit reduction measures.

“The supercommittee’s failure to reach a $1.2 trillion deal, let alone a deal that found the $4 trillion we called for in the ‘Go Big Coalition,’ is a significant disappointment to me and to all Americans who had hoped that partisanship might finally be put aside for the sake of our country’s long-term economic security,” Chris said in a public statement. “This government cannot continue to function if only one party is willing to compromise for the good of our country. Both parties got us into this situation, and both parties must share in the sacrifice to get us out of it.

“The failure of the supercommittee, however, does not mean the end of Congress’ responsibility to enact real deficit reduction measures that ensure our country does not slip into the deep economic morass that is paralyzing Europe. Greece may have a math problem, but America has a leadership problem. We still have the opportunity to right our ship by making the bipartisan compromises necessary to confront the very significant challenges our nation faces. It is my hope that this moment brings more of my colleagues into the ranks of the bipartisan group of 45 senators who support comprehensive deficit reduction that shares in the sacrifice. Congress must move quickly to confront our nation’s fiscal challenges.”

Chris has been an outspoken advocate for national fiscal responsibility. Last Thursday, he attended a press conference with more than 40 of his Senate colleagues encouraging the supercommittee to “go big” on deficit reduction.

Earlier this month, Chris joined 44 of his Senate colleagues on a letter to the supercommittee members urging for at least $4 trillion in savings.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work on the Budget Committee.

Video: Senator Coons on ABC’s This Week

Senator Coons appeared on ABC’s This Week program Sunday morning to talk about the bipartisan AGREE Act he introduced with Senator Rubio, and the work of the Congressional supercommittee on deficit reduction.

Statement on the California Proposition 8 court ruling

A longtime advocate of marriage equality, Senator Chris Coons released the following statement on Thursday on the California Supreme Court ruling that sponsors of Proposition 8 have the legal right to defend the discriminatory ballot initiative in federal court:

“I understand that today’s ruling by the California Supreme Court is a disappointment for many, especially for gay and lesbian Californians, who have already waited so long for marriage equality. Proposition 8 is an unconscionably discriminatory measure, but the legal battle against it must go on.

“Proposition 8 may only directly impact California, but the questions it implicates are of national importance. It has always been the case that the U.S. Supreme Court would eventually have to decide what our Constitution’s promise of equality means for gay and lesbian Americans. By allowing the proponents of Proposition 8 to continue their defense of that law, today’s ruling by the California Supreme Court brings that day one day closer.”

Chris commended those who have carried the challenge to Proposition 8 to this point, “You have built a strong record at the trial court that the reasons against marriage equality do not withstand scrutiny. This record, which will form the basis of future court decisions, gives equality the best chance to prevail.”

In August of 2010 a district court struck down Prop 8 — the California voter initiative passed in 2008 that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Because the State of California has refused to defend Prop 8, the 9th Circuit Court of appeals, a federal court, requested guidance from the California high court as to whether proponents of a state ballot measure have legal standing to do so in place of the state.

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ICYMI: News Journal Editorial: “Joint Coons-Rubio bill shows what can be done”

On Wednesday, The Wilmington News Journal published an editorial endorsing the bipartisan job creation bill introduced by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). The American Growth, Recovery and Economic Empowerment (AGREE) Act contains measures from both sides of the aisle — policies that tend to be associated with one party or another, but which Senator Rubio and Senator Coons agree can support job creation in the United States.

Who says bipartisan compromise is impossible?

Two freshman senators don’t think so. Chris Coons of Delaware and Marco Rubio of Florida have bridged the gap between Senate Democrats and Republicans to propose an admittedly small-scale but doable jobs bill.

They have taken some of the best bipartisan ideas for tax and regulation relief put forth by their colleagues in the House and Senate and put them in a single bill that has the look of a winner. It won’t solve all of our problems, but it would be a good start.

Their philosophy is simple: Why not act on the things they agree on?

Democrat Coons and Republican Rubio recognize that the partisan differences in Congress are wide. But the continuing problem of unemployment — 14 million Americans out of work — should force Congress to put aside the squabbling to pass proposals they already agree on.

For example, the bill would extend certain depreciation breaks and provide some Sarbanes-Oxley reporting relief for small businesses. The bill also would give businesses that produce goods in this country a higher research-and-development credit. If Congress doesn’t act soon, the current R&D tax credit expires at the end of December.

Sens. Coons and Rubio have proposed a mix of their and borrowed ideas that should be acceptable to big majorities in both houses of Congress.

If enough members agree, why can’t this or a similar bill be passed?

Not to do so is only further proof of a spiteful partisanship.

Congratulations to Sens. Coons and Rubio for … well, working together. It’s something American people want and expect from our leaders.

Read the editorial in The Wilmington News Journal.

Delawareans are encouraged to click here to review the bill and share their opinions.

Click here to download a more thorough summary of the bill.

Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to create American jobs.

Video: Coons-Rubio TV roundup

Senators Coons and Rubio appeared on several TV programs Tuesday and Wednesday to sell their bipartisan AGREE Act to support job creation. You can watch them below:

CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday evening:

CNBC’s Kudlow Report with Larry Kudlow on Tuesday evening:

MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday morning:

CNN’s American Morning on Wednesday morning:

Senator Coons urges supercommittee to “go big” on deficit reduction

The Go Big Caucus calls for a big deficit reduction deal at a press conference

Senator Coons joined more than 40 of his colleagues from both the Senate and the House at a bipartisan press conference today urging the 12-member debt-reduction super committee to “go big” in recommending ways to reduce our annual deficits and national debt.

The committee, consisting of Republicans and Democrats from both chambers of Congress, is working to develop a plan by November 23, 2011 to save at least $1.2 trillion over a 10-year period.

Deficit and debt reduction has been a top priority for Chris, who is also a member of the Senate Budget Committee.

Earlier this month, Chris joined 44 of his Senate colleagues on a letter to the super committee members urging for at least $4 trillion in savings.