U.S. forces kill Osama bin Laden

After President Obama’s announcement tonight that U.S. spec ops forces had killed Osama bin Laden, Senator Coons issued the following statement:

“This is a momentous development for our country. For nearly 10 years, America and its allies around the world have fought to stop the terrorism of al Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden. President Obama’s announcement tonight that bin Laden has been killed is a tribute to the hard, dedicated work of our armed forces. I hope his death will both make the world safer and speed the day when our troops can return home.”

What We’re Reading: School board reverses vote that jeopardized Race to the Top funds

From Sunday’s News Journal, in-depth reporting from education reporter Nichole Dobo on the 11-day drama in the Christina School District over whether the district would still receive its share of Delaware’s Race to the Top funds after the school board failed to follow the school reform plan to which it agreed. 

Faced with the loss of $11 million in federal funding, Christina called a special board meeting Saturday where school board members did two things. First, they voted unanimously to rescind their April 19 decision. Second, they voted unanimously to “reaffirm” that the school board is committed to helping the state fix the district’s schools.

“This whole thing was due to a lack of communication,” board member Eric M. Anderson said after the vote.

At nearly midnight on April 19 — after listening to hours of testimony from teachers and administrators — five of the seven Christina school board members voted to undo what had been done. The 19 teachers would be allowed to remain at their school because of what board members called flaws in the interview process.

The vote set off a chain reaction. Days later, the state Department of Education began a process to freeze the millions earmarked for the district.

Then last Monday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, in charge of President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top efforts, inserted himself into the local fight, strongly supporting the state in its efforts.

Click here to read the full story in the News Journal.

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: May 2 to May 8

Monday, May 2 at 8:30 a.m. – The Congressional delegation will host its annual Youth Conference at Wesley College. The conference will include an open forum featuring all three members of the delegation, as well as breakout sessions. Students will also participate in a food drive for the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing. Wesley College, H.B. DuPont College Center 2nd Floor, Dover, Del. – Open to Press.

• 8:45 am – Senator Tom Carper will address the conference
• 9:00 am – Senator Chris Coons will address the conference
• 9:15 am – Congressman John Carney will address the conference
• 9:30 am – Open forum with the Delegation and Wesley College President, Dr. Johnston

Monday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate gallery.

Tuesday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on clean energy deployment authority at the Department of Energy. 366 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Tuesday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Afghanistan. 419 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press. 

Wednesday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will testify.  226 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Wednesday, May 4 at 2:30 p.m. – The Senator will chair the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the following nominations: John A. Ross, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri; Timothy M. Cain, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Nannette J. Brown, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana; Nancy Torresen, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maine; William F. Kuntz, II, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York. 226 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Thursday, May 5 at 9:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Samuel Heyman Service to America Medals Breakfast. 325 Senate Russell Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Thursday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting.  226 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press.

Thursday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Pakistan. 419 Senate Dirksen Office Building, Washington, DC – Open to press. 

Thursday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m. – The Senator will preside over the Senate. Washington, DC – Open to press who wish to sit in the Senate gallery.

Friday, May 6 at 7:30 a.m. – The Senator will tour the UPS Christiana Facility.  325 Ruthar Drive, Newark, Del. – Open to press. 

Friday, May 6 at 10:00 a.m. – The Senator will attend the Johnson Controls Ground Breaking Ceremony. 50 Patriot Drive, Middletown, Del. Open to press.

Friday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. – The Senator will attend the Delaware HIV Consortium 7th Annual WOW Awards Celebration. Clarion Belle Hotel, 1612 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, Del. 

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Listen to Chris’ interview with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane

Senator Coons appeared on WHYY’s Radio Times on Tuesday, talking with host Marty Moss-Coane about a wide range of issues including the federal deficit and national debt, U.S. military engagements abroad, the effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and much more.

You can listen the audio of the hour-long interview by clicking here to download the MP3 file. You can also listen to the interview on WHYY’s website here.

Video: Chris talks about the debt ceiling on Morning Joe

Senator Coons appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe this morning to talk about deficit reduction and the upcoming vote on whether to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. Watch the interview below:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Senator Coons appears on Face the Nation

Senator Coons appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation program this morning alongside Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Senator Mark Kirk (D-Ill.), talking about the situations in Syria and Libya, the debt crisis facing our country, and public opinion of Congress.

Click here to watch the interview.

The Senator’s week ahead schedule: April 25 to May 1

Monday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m. Senator Coons will speak at the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Open House.  Community Service Building, Suite 903, 10^th and Orange Street, Wilmington, Del. – Open to Press.

Tuesday, April 26 at 9:45 a.m. – The Senator will conduct a live interview with NPR’s “Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane.” 105 North 6^th Street, Philadelphia, Penn. – Listen at 90.9 FM.

Tuesday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. – Senator Coons will speak at the Better Business Bureau of Delaware Dinner.  Hotel DuPont, 11^th and Market Street, Wilmington, Del. – Closed to press.  

Thursday, April 28 at 12:00 p.m. – Senator Coons will speak at the Dover Capital City Rotary Lunch. 1570 North DuPont Highway, Dover, Del. Open to press.

Thursday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. – Senator Coons will tour the Proctor and Gamble facility in Dover. 1340 West North Street, Dover, Del. – Closed to press.

Thursday, April 28 at 4:00 p.m. – Senator Coons will visit the Delaware Veterans Home, Delaware’s first and only 150-bed long-term care facility for veterans. 100 Delaware Veterans Boulevard, Milford, Del. – Closed to press.

Thursday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. Senator Coons will speak at Odd Fellows Dinner. Laurel Odd Fellows Lodge, 319 Poplar Street, Laurel, Del. – Closed to press.

Friday, April 29 at 8:00 a.m. Senator Coons will be the keynote speaker at the 2011 FSI Spring Entrepreneur Showcase and University of Delaware Business Plan Competition.  Clayton Hall, 100 David Hollowell Drive, University of Delaware, Newark, Del. Open to Press.

Saturday, April 30 at 11:00 a.m. Senator Coons will attend the University of Delaware’s Agriculture Day 2011. Townsend Hall, 531 South College Avenue, Newark, Del. – Open to press.

Saturday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. Senator Coons will attend the Get Your Head in the Game Brain Tumor Awareness Walk. Dravo Plaza at Riverfront Wilmington, Wilmington, Del. – Open to press.

Note: Schedule is subject to change.

Chris to appear on Face the Nation on Sunday

Tune into CBS’ Face the Nation program on Sunday morning to Senator Coons discuss the issues facing our nation with host Bob Schieffer. He’ll be live in the studio, joined via satellite by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).

Deficit reduction and the upcoming debate over raising the nation’s debt ceiling will top the agenda. 

It will be the second Sunday show on which Chris has appeared since being sworn into the Senate. In January he appeared on Fox News Sunday with Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). 

Face the Nation airs live in Philadelphia on CBS3 at 10:30 a.m.

Our Washington office is moving

If you come to visit Senator Coons’ office in Washington next week, you’ll find us in a different space! Until today, we’ve occupied the suite used in the last Congress by Senator Ted Kaufman — 383 Russell Senate Office Building. As of Monday, we’ll be in 127A Russell Senate Office Building.

We hope you’ll come by and see us!

Senator Coons talks clean energy at Hockessin Library

HOCKESSIN — Senator Coons visited Hockessin Library on Wednesday to highlight the progress of the Smart Energy Program begun by New Castle County while he was county executive. Now a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Chris has emerged as an outspoken advocate for research and investment in clean energy technology.

New Castle County is using its $3.8 million allocated from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, along with $4 million in county-issued bonds, to retrofit and install energy conservation measures in 20 county facilities. The project is expected to create or sustain 156 green jobs, and save more than $450,000 in utility costs annually.

Read more about it in the Community News.

Click on the image above to see more photos from the event.