Press releases
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643 rows where state = "DE" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending
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| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-epa-s-censoring-science-rule-is-the-trump-administration-s-last-gasp-of-science-denial | Carper: EPAs Censoring Science Rule is the Trump Administrations Last Gasp of Science Denial | 2020-12-31 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its rule todrastically undermine the use of science in agency decision-making. In the final days of the Trump Administration, EPA has finalized its rule that will suppress scientific research and censor scientists and experts. It's just one last gasp of science denial. Amid an ongoing public health crisis a time when accessing the latest scientific research and embracing scientific advancements is a critical function of protecting human health the Trump EPA is trying to limit the use of scientific data, even data that could be used to address the growing link between exposure to air pollution and adverse outcomes of COVID-19. It's as absurd as it sounds. As I said earlier this year, it's hard to imagine a time when our nation needed to embrace science more than we do at this very moment. Almost a year into our battle against the coronavirus pandemic, that's even truer today. While I continue to be amazed by this administration's penchant for science denial, I am confident that this irresponsible rollback finalized in the last few days of the Trump Administration will not impede the incoming administration's efforts to restore the use of science in rulemaking. President-elect Biden has made clear that his administration will be guided by science. In March, Senator Carperasked the EPA Inspector General (IG)to open an investigation into potentially unlawful efforts and procedural problems related to the preparation and review of this supplemental proposal. Later that month, Senator Carper asked EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler towithdraw the rule, describing how thesweeping policy would limit the use of science in EPA rulemaking. As Senator Carper described in hisMarch 24letter to Administrator Wheeler, examples abound of research that would now at minimum require considerable review time to det… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-celebrates-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-clean-air-act | Carper Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act | 2020-12-30 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act on December 31, 2020. Signed into law in 1970, the Clean Air Act created a national framework to reduce pollution and improve air quality, entrusting the Environmental Protection Agency with leading efforts to ensure everyone in this country has clean air to breathe. For fifty years, this landmark law has ushered in dramatic improvements in air quality. It has saved hundreds of thousands of lives from deadly air pollution while improving the health of millions more. During that same time, our economy has expanded and more than tripled its gross domestic product while EPA has worked with states and businesses alike to dramatically reduce harmful emissions. The progress made under the Clean Air Act is proof that improvements in public health and environmental quality goes hand in hand with economic growth and job creation. In fact, the benefits of the Clean Air Act outweigh its costs by a margin of 30 to one. This sweeping law will continue to endure because its regulations can adapt and evolve with the latest science to help us meet the most pressing air quality challenges of our day. For example, advances in science continue to elucidate the link between air pollution and human health. As our country continues to suffer from the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic, research shows that stronger safeguards for clean air can protect people from pollution that is causing more severe and even deadlier cases of COVID-19. Stronger Clean Air Act regulations can help us better protect public health. As our nation reckons with decades of systemic racism, stronger air protections can also help us address the air pollution that is disproportionately harming communities of color and reinforcing unjust disparities in health and environmental quality. Stronger Clean Air Act regulations can help us further the cause … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-returns-to-washington-to-override-ndaa-veto | Senator Coons returns to Washington to override NDAA veto | 2020-12-30 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations and Foreign Relations Committees, returned to Washington today for a vote to override President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. "I expect we will override President Trump's veto of the military bill," Sen. Coons said, "which means several good things for Delawareans and the country writ large including a pay increase for our troops and more investment in cybersecurity, both steps that we should be taking to reward the sacrifice of our military and keep our country safe." The override of a veto, the process by which each chamber of Congress votes for a second time on a bill rejected by the president, requires a two-thirds vote in each the Senate and House of Representatives. Congress has historically overridden fewer than 10% of all presidential vetoes. The Senate is scheduled to convene and resume consideration of the veto message on the NDAA for FY21 at noon tomorrow. The final override will get a vote sometime in the next few days. To check the Senate's schedule and watch live floor proceedings, visit www.senate.gov/floor/. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/audio-coons-discusses-900b-relief-package-ndaa-cybersecurity-threats | [AUDIO] Coons discusses $900B relief package, NDAA, cybersecurity threats | 2020-12-28 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. Today, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Mary Cummings-Jordan ofWHYY's Radio Timesto discuss the$900 billion COVID-19 relief package, which passed along with the $1.4 trillionannual appropriations billthat funds the federal government. Additionally, Coons discussed theNational Defense Authorization Act, which passed Congress on Dec. 11 and was subsequently vetoed by the president. Coons concluded the interview by talking about Russian hacking threats.To listen to the full interview, visitwhyy.org/episodes/regional-roundup-12-28-20/. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/audio-sen-coons-on-pres-trumps-threat-to-block-covid-19-relief-deal-yes-he-could-tank-the-bill | [AUDIO] Sen. Coons on Pres. Trumps threat to block COVID-19 relief deal: Yes, he could tank the bill | 2020-12-23 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del.Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee,joinedNPR's Morning Edition with Noel King to discuss President Trump's complaints on the COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress on Monday. When asked if President Trump could block the COVID-19 relief bill, Senator Coons said,Yes, he could tank the bill. One of the challenges of legislating in the era of Trump is that we never really know what he's going to do right up until he does it. Because Congress has now gone home to their districts and states all over the country, it's not easy to bring us back. I think we should call his bluff and by offering to pass by unanimous consent which can be done without all the members of Congress present an increase to the dollar amount he's asking for. Democrats would support this. Let's see if Republicans will. Senator Coons added, this is not the last relief bill we'll need, but it is the bill we need right now. It's going to provide rental assistance, unemployment extension, hundreds of billions in small business support, support for those who are hungry through nutrition programs, support for schools and for vaccine distribution. It is a large relief package. We should test the president's bluff and offer to add an increased individual stimulus payment or family stimulus payment and see what happens. Congress passed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package on Monday. To see a breakdown of the package's provisions, clickhere. Full audio availablehere.A transcript is provided below. Q: What do you think of the President calling for changes after Congress spent 7 months working toward this moment? Sen. Coons:Noel, I'm just speechless. It is yet another example of how President Trump has engaged the role of president. He stayed out of these negotiation for weeks. He did not press for a bigger package in the final days before it was enacted, and once the bill has finally been passed by the House and Senate and the entire Congress has gone home, he … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-2021-spending-bill-sen-coons-highlights-programs-to-support-delaware-manufacturing-jobs-and-research | In 2021 spending bill, Sen. Coons highlights programs to support Delaware manufacturing jobs and research | 2020-12-23 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, fought to secure funding for well-paying materials and manufacturing jobs in the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations package, which passed Congress this week. Specifically, the bill includes support for research at HBCUs like Delaware State University and adds $160 million above the president's request for upgrades to the Army's Chinook Block II helicopter program that employs hundreds of Delawareans across the Delaware Valley. Delawareans have long been employed by some of the top manufacturing and materials producers in the country. This year's spending package clearly recognizes the role our state plays in producing some of the highest quality defense-related research and aircraft in the world,said Senator Coons.I'm glad that the new defense bill bolsters more of the programs that have provided well-paying jobs to Delawareans in our state and across the region and continues to support our Delaware Air National Guard and our military. The federal spending bill includes provisions that will directly support Delaware jobs including: Strong funding for Department of Defense-related research at HBCUs like Delaware State University. Strong funding for research programs that the University of Delaware participates in, and which help create well-paid materials and manufacturing jobs.$160 million above the President's request for the Army's Chinook Block II helicopter upgrades and $29 million for advance procurement. This program employs hundreds of Delawareans across the Delaware Valley.Funding for six additional aircraft in the V-22 program, which is another important source of jobs for Delawareans.$259 million in upgrades to C-130H aircraft, used by Delaware's Air National Guard. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-2021-spending-bill-sen-coons-secures-funding-to-invest-in-national-service-hbcus-and-public-health | In 2021 spending bill, Sen. Coons secures funding to invest in national service, HBCUs, and public health | 2020-12-23 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), the first Delaware senator in more than 40 years to serve on the powerful Appropriations Committee, applauded the passage of the $1.4 trillion federal funding bill for Fiscal Year 2021 that invests in education and public health, bolsters national service programs that have been supporting community needs amid the COVID-19 response, and supports research on diseases like ALS and pancreatic cancer. The package passedCongressthis week. As we continue torespondtothe toll COVID-19 has takenon our country including our health and education systems community-based programsremain essential. This year's appropriations package recognizes this by supporting our HBCUs, community health centers, and other local groups while setting a course for a community-led recovery through national service programs like AmeriCorps,said Senator Coons.I'm also thrilled the bill includes key long-range research investments in ALS treatments a priority for the Senate ALS Caucus and in pancreatic cancer, a matter of personal importance to my family and to so many families across the country. The federal funding bill includes provisions that will support health, education, and public service in Delaware and across the country, and provides: A $57.2 million increase in Community Health Center funding, which will support centers including Westside Family Healthcare, La Red Health Center, and Henrietta Johnson Medical Center that provide Americans with critical health care, including testing and treatment of COVID-19 A $13 million increase to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including Delaware State University $23.6 million to support Special Olympics education programs A $40 million programmatic increase for AmeriCorps, which supports the efforts of more than 500 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members in Delaware $40 million in funding for ALS research programs at the Department of Defense, which will support impactful research that is instrumental to the development of new th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-highlights-significant-climate-solutions-in-the-covid-emergency-relief-and-omnibus-bill | Carper Highlights Significant Climate Solutions in the COVID Emergency Relief and Omnibus Bill | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, highlighted significant climate provisions included in the end of the year spending bill known as the omnibus appropriations bill that will aid in the nation's fight against the climate crisis, improve air quality and support American manufacturing jobs. These provisions represent the future of climate solutions, finding ways that the federal government can help to save our planet from the climate crisis while creating hundreds of thousands of new manufacturing jobs. We can ensure American workers lead the national transition to a clean economy. We can embrace the ingenuity and innovation of American industries while protecting vulnerable communities. We can enact sweeping, national climate policies that implicate our everyday ways of life without complicating our lives. We can, we must, and we will, Senator Carper said. Make no mistake, these provisions will soon be some of the most significant climate legislation to pass out of Congress to dateand we're just getting started. Legislation creates nationwide phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases. Included in the omnibus is an amended version of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, Senator Carper's legislation with Senator Kennedy (R-La.) that will implement a nationwide 85 percent phasedown on the production and importation of hydrofluorocarbons, potent greenhouse gases known as HFCs. By enabling the U.S. to join the rest of the world in phasing down HFCs, this language will help our planet avoid half a degree Celsius in global warming while supporting U.S. industries already making the next generation of HFC-alternatives, which employ more than 593,000 Americans. The AIM Act would: Save American consumers $3.7 billion over 15 years; Increase U.S. manufacturing output by almost $39 billion over seven years; and, Result in the creation of 150,000 more American jobs. HFCs can be found in nearl… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/delaware-delegation-celebrates-major-wins-for-the-first-state-in-water-infrastructure-legislation | Delaware Delegation Celebrates Major Wins for the First State in Water Infrastructure Legislation | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, as well as U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) as part of legislation to fund the government. From improving and expanding water infrastructure to investing in disadvantaged communities, replenishing beaches, and improving coastal resilience, WRDA 2020 delivers major wins for Delaware. In Delaware and across the country, our nation's water infrastructure keeps our economy moving forward. This year's Water Resources Development Act authorizes funding to improve our ports, like the Port of Wilmington. It also implements several much-needed reforms to fortify our most vulnerable communities in the First State from the impacts of climate change and rebuild our beaches, said Senator Carper, who co-authored the legislation with Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). I'm proud that my colleagues in Congress came together to get this critical bill across the finish line. Our bipartisan legislation will create and sustain jobs and help secure a better future for the American people. Delaware is the country's lowest-lying state, and our economy and ecosystems rely on the protection of coastal communities and navigability of our waterways, Senator Coons said. I'm pleased that WRDA 2020 includes critical priorities for the First State: safeguarding Delaware's beach communities, enhancing resiliency in the face of climate change and rising sea levels, and facilitating important projects to support the men and women who work at the Port of Wilmington. I'm glad to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate particularly Senator Carper who played a leading role in these negotiations to deliver water infrastructure updates that meet the unique needs of our state. We know that one of the most important aspects of infrastructure is maintaining our waterways and systems. This year's WRDA, led by Delaware's Senator Carper ma… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/coons-carper-bill-extending-bankruptcy-judgeships-to-be-signed-into-law | Coons, Carper bill extending bankruptcy judgeships to be signed into law | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON On Monday evening, theU.S.Houseof Representativespassed a bill introduced by Senator Chris Coons, a member of theSenateJudiciary Committee, andSenatorTom Carper (both D-Del.) to extend25 temporary bankruptcy judgeships across the country for five years, including all seven temporary judgeships in Delaware.These extensions come at a critical time to ensure bankruptcy courts have the judges necessary to provide relief to companies and their employees facing reorganization the wake of COVID-19. Businesses and individuals are facing profound financial stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this bipartisan bill will ensure they can go through bankruptcy efficiently,said SenatorCoons. When they can't, jobs and revenue are lost. Delaware has earned its reputation for having one of the most highly regarded bankruptcy courts in the country, and this law ensures that our court has the resources it will need to manage pressing caseloads and provide relief to businesses and employees. In these challenging times, our legal system shouldn't be another source of uncertainty for businesses and workers. This common-sense bill will ensure our courts including those in Delaware, have the adequate resources to fairly and expeditiously process bankruptcy cases,said Senator Carper. Specifically, this bill will maintain the number of judgeships in Delaware's bankruptcy courts, which remain some of the busiest and handle some of the important cases in our country. I thank Senator Coons for his leadership in bringing Republicans and Democrats together to pass this important piece of legislation. The billpreviouslypassed in the Senate on Dec. 9, 2020, and it will now head to thepresident's desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan bill was co-introduced bySen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Additional co-sponsors includeSens.Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). This legislation will better equip our bankruptcy system, helping courts, businesses and consumers by allowing these cases to … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-2021-spending-bill-sen-coons-secures-funding-for-delaware-manufacturing-institute-amtrak-housing-and-small-businesses | In 2021 spending bill, Sen. Coons secures funding for Delaware manufacturing institute, Amtrak, housing, and small businesses | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured funding in the Fiscal Year 2021 federal spending bills for key economic, workforce development, housing, and transportation infrastructure priorities. The bill includes an historic increase in IRS funding, as well as funding for Amtrak, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, small businesses, advanced manufacturing, and more. The bill passed Congress Monday evening. I've been working hard on the Appropriations Committee and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to ensure the final federal spending bill continues to make critical investments in Delaware's communities,said Senator Coons.In this bill, we have made significant progress in reversing the decades-long trend of underfunding the IRS, which unfortunately has limited the quality of service taxpayers receive. This bill alsosupports programs that boost economic and workforce development, like the Manufacturing USA program and the Small Business Administration, and provides funding for key housing and transportation priorities, like Amtrak and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. After such a challenging year for businesses and families up and down our state, I'm pleased that Republicans and Democrats worked together to deliver the funding and resources that Delawareans deserve. The federal spending bill includes provisions that will directly benefittaxpayers, manufacturers, railpassengers, renters, small businesses, and workers: The bill provides $11.9billion for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is $409 million more than the Fiscal Year 2020 enacted level and the highest level of funding provided for the agency in a decade. This increase will allow the IRS toprocess returns and fulfill other customer servicesmore quicklyand effectively. As important, additional resources will allow the IRS to make progress of reducing the tax gap, the difference between taxes owed and taxes actually collected, which is estimated at almost $50… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-2021-spending-bill-sen-coons-secures-investments-in-protecting-oceans-combatting-wildlife-trafficking-and-supporting-the-environment-and-agriculture | In 2021 spending bill, Sen. Coons secures investments in protecting oceans, combatting wildlife trafficking, and supporting the environment and agriculture | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), the first Delaware senator in more than 40 years to serve on the powerful Appropriations Committee, secured funding for agriculture and environmental priorities in the federal spending bill for Fiscal Year 2021, which passed Congress late Monday. Delaware's natural resources help drive our economy and make our state a great place to live, work, and visit,said Senator Coons. I'm pleased that we secured funding for conservation programs that will have a direct impact on our region protecting our land, water, and wildlife, and supporting our agricultural community. As co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, I'm also glad this bill invests in proven programs like ARPA-E to supportresearch in Delaware andthe development of advanced energy technologies that will reduce carbon pollution. This funding will help create a cleaner environment and a stronger local economy in our state, and I'm glad my colleagues came to a bipartisan agreement on this bill so we can support Delawareans and Americans across the country. The federal spending bill includes funding for agriculture and environmental priorities that will directly benefit Delawareas well as international and ocean conservation efforts: Provides $75 million to address ocean plastic pollution and directs the U.S. government to establish a newglobal fundto address ocean plastic pollution, as called for in theUNITE for our Oceans Actwhich Senator Coons recently introduced with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). This is a significant increase from prior funding of $5 million to address marine debris.Provides strong funding for the Department of State, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and related agencies tocombat wildlife trafficking.Provides a full-time position to support the Interagency Working Group on Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) Fishing, established in Senator Coons and Roger Wicker's (R-Miss.)Maritime SAFE Act.Includes $46.5 mil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-celebrates-passage-of-legislation-to-support-clean-energy-jobs-combat-climate-change | Sen. Coons celebrates passage of legislation to support clean energy jobs, combat climate change | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, theEnergy Act of 2020passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 spending bill, marking the first major overhaul of U.S. energy policy in over a decade. The landmark energy legislation includes a number of bipartisan measures led by U.S. Senator ChrisCoons (D-Del.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, that will save energy, support jobs in therenewable energy sector, address climate change, and deliver significant cost savings to Delawareans. Investment in energy innovation is critical to addressing climate change and aiding in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken a significant toll on the energy sector in Delaware and around the country,said Senator Coons. TheEnergy Act of 2020brings together dozens of bipartisan proposals that will spur innovation, accelerate development and deployment of new technologies, and ensure the United States continues to be a global energy leader. This bill is the most significant action we have taken for climate this Congress and its passage is strong evidence that there is bipartisan support for working together on climate solutions and investing in advanced energy technologies while also caring for our nation's most vulnerable citizens. The energy package includes several provisions from legislation introduced by Senator Coons. Specifically, the bill: Reauthorizes and updates the Weatherization Assistance Program, which reduces energy costs for low-income households by providing home energy retrofits to make homes safer and more energy efficient. Thousands of low-income Delawareans, particularly children, seniors, and disabled individuals, have benefitted from the program, with many cutting their energy bills by 30 to 50 percent. Senator Coons was the lead sponsor of theWeatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act of 2019,along with Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.). Their bill's provision to create a competitive innovation grant … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-graham-bill-extending-bankruptcy-judgeships-to-be-signed-into-law | Sens. Coons, Graham bill extending bankruptcy judgeships to be signed into law | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON On Monday evening, theU.S.Houseof Representativespassed a bill introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to extend25 temporary bankruptcy judgeships across the country for five years, including all seven temporary judgeships in Delaware. These extensions come at a critical time to ensure bankruptcy courts have the judges necessary to provide relief to companies and their employees facing reorganization the wake of COVID-19. The bill was cosponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). Businesses and individuals are facing profound financial stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this bipartisan bill will ensure they can go through bankruptcy efficiently,said Senator Coons. When they can't, jobs and revenue are lost. Delaware has earned its reputation for having one of the most highly regarded bankruptcy courts in the country, and this law ensures that our court has the resources it will need to manage pressing caseloads and provide relief to businesses and employees. This legislation will better equip our bankruptcy system, helping courts, businesses and consumers by allowing these cases to be addressed in a timely manner,said Senator Graham.I'm glad to see these important changes passed into law. In these challenging times, our legal system shouldn't be another source of uncertainty for businesses and workers. This common-sense bill will ensure our courts including those in Delaware, have the adequate resources to fairly and expeditiously process bankruptcy cases,said Senator Tom Carper. Specifically, this bill will maintain the number of judgeships in Delaware's bankruptcy courts, which remain some of the busiest and handle some of the important cases in our country. I thank Senator Coons for his leadership in bringing Republicans and Democrats together to pass this important piece of legislation. As America's businesses struggle with the challenges of operating during the COVID-19 pande… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-cheers-tax-incentives-in-end-of-the-year-spending-deal | Carper Cheers Tax Incentives in End-of-the-Year Spending Deal | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement on the critical clean energy tax provisions included in the omnibus spending bill that would provide long-term incentives foroffshore wind energyandcreate new incentives to supporttechnologies that convert wasted heat to electricity, two issues that Senator Carper has worked for years to advance. As a nation, we needto do more to incentivize the production of clean energy here at home, especially to meet our clean energy and emission reduction goals. This bipartisan spending deal will provide industries with the certainty and predictability needed to make long-term investments in new, innovative clean energy technologies. I am thrilled that thebipartisan spending bill includes a slightly amended version of my legislation with Senator Collins that would spark investments in offshore wind power. The Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act provides a long-term offshore wind investment tax credit to make offshore wind a reality in this country, along with the manufacturing and construction jobs that come with it. By investing in this new technology and harnessing the power of offshore wind energy, we can create good-paying jobs, reduce our reliance on dirtier sources of energy andprovide reduced energy costs to consumers. For over ten years, Senator Collins and I have tried to provide long-term tax certainty for the offshore wind industry and to have this provision finally included in the tax extenders package is a very good day. This bipartisan spending deal also includesan amended version ofmy legislation with Senator Cardin, the Waste Heat to Power Investment Tax Credit Act. This legislation creates a new tax credit to support the investment in technology that reduces harmful emissions and conserves energy by converting wasted heat to clean electricity. This is an important tax credit is supported by industry, e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-colleagues-announce-historic-bipartisan-agreement-on-climate-legislation | Carper, Colleagues Announce Historic Bipartisan Agreement on Climate Legislation | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined EPW Chairman John Barrasso (R- Wyo.) and Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and John Kennedy (R-La.) in announcing a historic, bipartisan agreement to include multiple pieces of climate legislation in the continuing resolution. The continuing resolution will now include: Senator Carper's American Manufacturing and Innovation (AIM) Act with Senator Kennedy, legislation that would implement a 15-year phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) at a national level for the first time, administered by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Senator Carper's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA); and, The Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act to promote carbon capture technologies, which is also cosponsored by Senator Carper. The buses that take our kids to school. The air conditioners that keep our homes cool. The refrigerators that keep our groceries safe to eat. For millions of people across the country, these are just small parts of our everyday lives, but they also represent big threats to the health of our communities and our planet. Old, dirty diesel engines pollute the air we breathe and damage our climate with deadly black carbon. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in air conditioning and refrigeration warm our climate more than thousands of times more than carbon dioxide, Senator Carper said. Fortunately, there are solutions to these problems that will clean our air, protect and create American jobs, and help to save our planet from the climate crisis. Make no mistake, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Actand the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies Act will soon be some of the most significant climate solutions to pass out of Congress to date, Senator Carper continued. These bills will help to improve air quality and tackle the climate crisi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-hails-critical-transportation-funding-in-the-emergency-coronavirus-relief-and-omnibus-package | Carper Hails Critical Transportation Funding in the Emergency Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Package | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the transportation funding-related provisions included in the emergency coronavirus relief and omnibus spending package. Over the last several months, the coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way millions of people use our nation's infrastructure. Stay at home orders have kept millions of people off of our roads, buses and trains. Canceled travel plans have dramatically cleared our airways. These impacts to our nation's transportation system have distressed the way we pay for our transportation system. Our nation's infrastructure is paid for largely through user fees tolls, motor fuel taxes,transit fares and ticket revenue,vehicle excise taxes and registration fees and, over the course of this pandemic, all of these sources of revenue have declined dramatically. As a result, state and local highway, transit, and rail agencies have been struggling to balance their budgets and forced to consider furloughs, service cuts or canceled contracts. The impact of this pandemic on state and local budgets has been without modern precedent. With this new bipartisan relief package, Congress is providing some long-awaited relief to state and local budgets whose budgets have been stretched precariously thin for too long. This new package will prevent disastrous cuts to transit and rail service and will alsoenable states to transfer funds to their public tolling agencies, which will help those agencies avoid layoffs or other worst-case-scenario budget cuts. I'm particularly glad that this bipartisan package contains critical funding for public transit, regional airports and Amtrak. These sectors of our transportation network have been grappling with the unexpected and extraordinary decline in ridership and revenue. In this bipartisan relief package, Congress has also provided some long-awaited assistance to the motor coach industry. Since the start of th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/epw-leaders-secure-inclusion-of-bipartisan-water-infrastructure-legislation-in-the-omnibus | EPW Leaders Secure Inclusion of Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Legislation in the Omnibus | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and the bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee secured the inclusion of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) in the legislation to fund the government. WRDA 2020 supports our nation's economic competitiveness by increasing water storage, providing protection from dangerous floodwaters, deepening nationally significant ports, maintaining the navigability of inland waterways, and addressing the threat of invasive species across the country. The bill includes natural infrastructure and ecosystem restoration efforts to protect the environment and improve the resiliency of our water infrastructure. It also cuts red tape, is fiscally responsible, and strengthens our national security. In addition to being the lifeblood for communities across the country, our nation's water infrastructure keeps our economy moving forward. That is why it's so important for Congress to come together every two years and authorize funding to improve our ports, restore and rebuild our waterways, protect our communities from coastal storms and inland flooding, and maintain our other critical water resources infrastructure, Senator Carper said. I'm proud that this year's Water Resources Development Act invests in essential Army Corps of Engineers projects and implements several much-needed reforms to combat climate change and support our most vulnerable communities. Our bipartisan legislation will create and sustain jobs and help secure a better future for the American people. Water infrastructure is critical to every community in our country, Senator Barrasso said. The Water Resources Development Act will help grow the economy, cut red tape, and keep communities safe. Now, this legislation can move forward. I want to thank Ranking Member Carper and Senators Capi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-legislation-to-fight-illegal-streaming-by-criminal-organizations-to-be-signed-into-law | Bipartisan legislation to fight illegal streaming by criminal organizations to be signed into law | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, bipartisan legislation by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and David Perdue (R-Ga.) that will punish large-scale criminal streaming services that willfully and for commercial advantage or private financial gain offer to the public illicit services dedicated to illegally streaming copyrighted material will be signed into law.TheProtecting Lawful Streaming Actwas included in the year-end spending package that is expected to be signed intolaw this week. The Protecting Lawful Streaming Act will apply only to commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services. The law will not sweep in normal practices by online service providers, good faith business disputes, noncommercial activities, or in any way impact individuals who access pirated streams or unwittingly stream unauthorized copies of copyrighted works. Individuals who might use pirate streaming services will not be affected. Americans increasingly rely on streaming to enjoy their favorite music, sporting events, movies, television shows, audiobooks, and other forms of entertainment content, particularly during this pandemic,said Senator Coons.For too long, large-scale, criminal enterprises have taken advantage of a loophole in CD and DVD-era copyright laws to engage in unprecedented digital piracy, which costs our economy billions of dollars and threatens the livelihoods of our creative community. I am proud that Congress passed this targeted bill, which empowers the Department of Justice to prosecute large-scale, for-profit streaming piracy services, and I appreciate the collaborative effort by content owners, technology companies, public interest groups, and others to ensure that this legislation cannot be used to target internet users or legitimate streaming platforms. The shift toward streaming content online ha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/delaware-delegation-celebrates-major-wins-for-the-first-state-in-water-infrastructure-legislation | Delaware delegation celebrates major wins for the First State in water infrastructure legislation | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, as well as U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) as part of legislation to fund the government. From improving and expanding water infrastructure to investing in disadvantaged communities, replenishing beaches, and improving coastal resilience, WRDA 2020 delivers major wins for Delaware. In Delaware and across the country, our nation's water infrastructure keeps our economy moving forward. This year's Water Resources Development Act authorizes funding to improve our ports, like the Port of Wilmington. It also implements several much-needed reforms to fortify our most vulnerable communities in the First State from the impacts of climate change and rebuild our beaches,said Senator Carper, who co-authored the legislation with Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). I'm proud that my colleagues in Congress came together to get this critical bill across the finish line. Our bipartisan legislation will create and sustain jobs and help secure a better future for the American people. Delaware is the country's lowest-lying state, and our economy and ecosystems rely on the protection of coastal communities and navigability of our waterways,Senator Coons said.I'm pleased that WRDA 2020 includes critical priorities for the First State: safeguarding Delaware's beach communities, enhancing resiliency in the face of climate change and rising sea levels, and facilitating important projects to support the men and women who work at the Port of Wilmington. I'm glad to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate particularly Senator Carper who played a leading role in these negotiations to deliver water infrastructure updates that meet the unique needs of our state. We know that one of the most important aspects of infrastructure is maintaining our waterways and systems. This year's WRDA, led by Delaware's Senator Carper makes those crit… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-2021-spending-bill-sen-coons-secures-intellectual-property-protections | In 2021 spending bill, Sen. Coons secures intellectual property protections | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Appropriations and Judiciary committees, secured funding in the Fiscal Year 2021 federal spending bill to protect intellectual property (IP) rights. The omnibus bill set to be passed by the Senate on Monday features three pieces of legislation that serve to protect American innovation through changes to the law on trademark registration, streaming services, and copyright disputes. Promoting and protecting American innovation is critical to our economy, our national security, and our global standing. That's why I'm glad that our bipartisan work on three critical intellectual property priorities will soon be signed into law in this year's spending bill,said Senator Coons.I am especiallypleasedit includestheTrademark Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill with Senator Tillis, which will help ensure that consumers can have confidence in the source of the branded products and services they buy. TheTrademark Modernization Act (S.3449)establishes new mechanisms for challenging fraudulent trademark registrations and filings atthe United States Patent and Trademark Office and ensuring that federal trademark registrations correspond to actual use in commerce. Senators Coons and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the bill as a companion tobipartisan House legislation. The Trademark Modernization Act will protect consumers by making it easier for legitimate brand owners to prevent others fromusing confusingly similar marks that could mislead the public about the source of goods or services. TheProtecting Lawful Streaming Actempowers the Department of Justice to prosecute large-scale criminal streaming services that undermine legitimate sources of copyrighted content. Senator Coons cosponsored and helped lead this legislative proposal drafted by Senator Tillis. The Protecting Lawful Streaming Act modernizes the law by harmonizing the penalties for illicit streaming with those for copying and distributing unauthorized content on physical media like DVDs. This legislatio… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-fiscal-year-2021-spending-bill-sen-coons-secures-funding-for-national-security-and-international-development-priorities | In Fiscal Year 2021 spending bill, Sen. Coons secures funding for national security and international development priorities | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, secured funding in the Fiscal Year 2021 federal spending bill to ensure the United States restores its global leadership role by investing in programs to promote national security and international development and provide global health assistance to fight the pandemic. Senator Coons worked on a bipartisan basis to reject the president's proposal to slash funding for U.S. national security and development agencies by 30 percent for the fourth year in a row. The Senate voted to pass these provisions on Monday as part of a $1.4 trillion annual spending package, and they are soon expected to become law. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit us hard in the United States,and we must remember that our allies and partners face similar challenges. It is in the United States' interest and consistent with our values to lead the global response to this disease. This year's bipartisan spending deal represents an initialdownpayment on what will need to be a more aggressive response to the health crisis and economic consequences of the pandemic.said Senator Coons.I am pleased that the package includes provisions that will provide $4 billion to a public-private partnership that can help ensure swift distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine to low income countries.I am also pleased to see two of my major authorizing bills, the Sudan Claims Resolution Act and the Nita Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act included in the package. The federal spending bill includes provisions that will ensure the United Statesremainsa global leaderand continues to safeguardU.S.interests and values around the world, including: $50 million for the establishment of the Nita Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Fund to support venture capital investments in Palestinian entrepreneurs andpeople-to-people ties between Israelis and Palestinians. The Sudan Claims Resolution Act, whichwillrestore Sudan's sovereign immunity and resolve longstanding terrorism-related claims aga… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-sudan-legal-peace-legislation-included-in-year-end-spending-package | Sen. Coons Sudan legal peace legislation included in year-end spending package | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Foreign Relations, Judiciary, and Appropriations Committees, celebrates the inclusion of the Sudan Claims Resolution Act in the year-end spending package that Congress will vote on today. Thehistoriclegislationrestores Sudan's sovereign immunity,resolves longstanding terrorism-related claims against the countryandprovides accountability and compensation tohundreds of terrorvictims and family members,andprotects the rights of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.Passage of the Sudan Claims Resolution Act follows the removal of Sudan from the state sponsors of terrorism list, both critical steps to the full normalization of relations between the United States and Sudan and Sudan's reentry into the international community. The spending package also includes over $900 million in economic assistance to Sudan to stabilize the economy and civilian-led democratic transition, support the Sudanese people, and provide urgently needed debt relief and restructuring. The passage of this bipartisan legislation will provide a small measure of justice to the families of the East Africa Embassy bombings who have devoted over two decades to their unwavering quest to seek accountability for the attacks that changed their lives forever on August 7, 1998,said Senator Coons.The legislation will also help Sudan a country of 44 million people at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East reenter the global economy after 27 years on thestate sponsors of terrorismlist, promote foreign investment and economic growth in the country, and support the civilian-led transition to democracy. Iappreciate the commitment ofmy colleagues on both sides of the aisle, namely Senators Schumer, Menendez, Feinstein, Graham, and Risch, to reach abipartisanagreement on thishistoriclegislation that protects the rights of all victims of terror while granting Sudan urgently needed relief. I look forward to working on a bipartisan basis to further strengthen and deepen the U.S.-Sudan r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-votes-to-pass-900b-covid-19-relief-package | Sen. Coons votes to pass $900B COVID-19 relief package | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), the top Democrat on the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, voted to pass a roughly $900 billion stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The billis expectedto become law quickly. Today, Republicans and Democrats finally upheld our responsibility to the American people and worked together to pass a $900 billion relief package that will help Delawareans in a time of great need. This package will provide prompt aid to our small businesses, especially those hardest-hit by this pandemic; to working Delawareans who were laid off through no fault of their own; and to our families that are struggling to pay rent and put food on the table. It will also help deliver the resources we need to swiftly produce and distribute a vaccine so we can finally combat this pandemic once and for all,said Senator Coons.This must not be the last relief bill, but it's a strong compromise that will deliver relief to the Delawareans who need it before the holidays. The roughly $900 billion stimulus package includes: An expansion of the unemployment insurance program. The package includes a $300 per week federal supplement to weekly state benefits through March 14, 2021. It also extends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum number of weeks an individual may claim benefits through regular state unemployment plus the PEUC program, or through the PUA program, to 50 weeks.Direct financial support to American working families. The package provides $600 in direct payments for individuals making up to $75,000 per year and $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000 per year, as well as a $600 payment for each child dependent. The package also ensureshouseholds with individuals of mixed immigration statuswill receive payments.$325 billion to small businesses. The package includes two small business proposals first introduced b… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-menendez-rubio-leahy-shaheen-celebrate-expected-passage-of-robert-levinson-hostage-recovery-and-hostage-taking-accountability-act | Sens. Coons, Menendez, Rubio, Leahy, Shaheen celebrate expected passage of Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), joined SFRC Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) andSenators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), andJeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)in releasing the following statements on securing passage of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (S.712) as part of the end-of-year funding legislation approved by the Senate today: The passage of this bipartisan bill is an important step in seeking justice for the unlawful detention and death of Bob Levinson, an American who was taken hostage by Iran over a decade ago and died in Iranian custody,said Senator Coons. The Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act honors Bob by strengthening our ability to bring Americans detained abroad home safely and hold their captors accountable. Earlier this year, we learned that Bob Levinson, the longest-held hostage in American history, died while in Iranian custody, far from his loving family, friends and colleagues. In March 2007, after decades of service to the United States, Bob Levinson was cruelly and mysteriously taken from his family, who have spent the past 13 years tirelessly fighting for his safe return home. Their indefatigable dedication to Bob has inspired me and my colleagues over the years to pursue various legislative efforts, leading to the passage of this bill to ensure that the United States has the resourcesto safeguard American lives abroad and reunite hostages with their loved ones,said Senator Menendez.I commend my colleagues for helping enact this bill, and I continue to stand with the Levinson family in the long march towards achieving justice for Bob. This bipartisan bill, named in honor of Floridian Bob Levinson, the longest held American hostage who is believed to have died while detained by the brutal regime in Tehran, strengthens our nation's resources to bring back American hostages,said Senator Rubio. We must ensure that no American family will ever e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-meets-with-president-elect-biden-s-nominee-for-defense-secretary | Carper Meets With President-elect Bidens Nominee for Defense Secretary | 2020-12-20 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a 23-year veteran of the Navy and the Naval Reserves, released the following statement after meeting with General Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden's intended nominee to lead the Department of Defense. I had the opportunity to meet with General Lloyd Austin, a highly respected leader, decorated veteran, and an excellent and historic choice to be the next Secretary of Defense. As the former Commander of CENTCOM, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, and with more than four decades of distinguished service in the U.S. Army, General Austin has a deep understanding of the organization he will lead, and of the ever-evolving national security threats our nation faces. In particular, his deep understanding of the counterterrorism and security challenges we face in the Middle East will be an asset as we confront a shifting threat landscape in that region. What's more, General Austin's philosophy of strategic patience, combined with his unique understanding of the many tools in our defense arsenal, will serve our nation well as we prepare to confront and deter aggression and unconventional threats posed by near-peer adversaries around the globe. Having led our men and women in uniform, General Austin possesses a deep appreciation of the sacrifices our service members and their families make on behalf of our nation. As a proud veteran and a fierce advocate of for our veteran community, I look forward to working with General Lloyd Austin and the incoming Administration to fulfill our nation's most sacred duty: supporting our service members and their families at home and abroad, and ensuring they receive the care and opportunities they deserve once they return home. In particular, I was pleased to speak with General Austin regarding my support for our military and veteran students, and making sure they get the most out of their hard-earned benefits. During our conversation, General Austin expressed his strong belief that we must rebuild alliances and lead with dip… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-applauds-new-covid-19-relief-deal | Sen. Coons applauds new COVID-19 relief deal | 2020-12-20 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) applauded the $900 billion agreement reached by the Senate and House to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and provide relief to the American people. The agreement includes unemployment aid, rental assistance, direct payments, support for schools, vaccine distribution, and more. It also extends the Paycheck Protection Program and includeslegislation to support small businesses authored by Senator Coons. Congress has finally reached an agreement to provide desperately needed relief to people in Delaware and across the country,Senator Coons said. I am grateful to my colleagues both Republicans and Democrats who worked together for weeks to delivercompromise legislation after too many months of inaction.We cannot wait any longer. Families and small businesses in Delaware need this help now. The bipartisan package supports small businesses with a range of grant and loan programs. It includes two proposals first introduced by Senator Coons: $284 billion for asecond round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans-to-grantsprioritized for businesses hit hard by the pandemicand a $3.5 billionextension of the Small Business Debt Relief Program, which has already delivered $8 billion in debt relief, automatically, to more than 320,000 credit-constrained small businesses nationwide and nearly 900 in Delaware. The package also supports Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which are private mission-driven financial lenders that deliver responsible, affordable lending to low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities. Over 300 CDFIs have served as PPP lenders, helping to reach some of the hardest-hit minority-owned small businesses. Small business owners across Delaware and the country have been fighting to preserve jobs in their communities, without badly needed help for too long. Finally, Congress has the opportunity to enact a bipartisan bill with robust additional aid for Main Street. In particular, I applaud the bipartisan negot… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-sen-coons-on-covid-relief-im-committedto-not-leave-until-we-get-this-deal-done | [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on COVID relief: Im committedto not leave until we get this deal done | 2020-12-20 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTONToday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)joinedMSNBC to discuss negotiations on a COVID-19 relief package as Congress nears an agreement. On a pandemic relief deal: We should have had this done months and months ago. Right now the very final text is being resolved and then that will go to congressional offices. It is always the case here that any one senator who has some concern can slow us down. I'm committed many of us are committed to not leave until we get this deal done. That could stretch out a few more days, but every signal is that we have finally addressed every last issue and we should finally be delivering this relief. I continue to hear day and night from Delawareans anxious to know whether there's going to be relief for those facing eviction, relief for those relying on the food bank, relief for those who are unemployed, support and help for small businesses. This bill will do that, but it's not everything we need to do. We will need to come back and do another relief bill early next year. On Trump's absence from COVID relief negotiations:I keep asking myself everyday: What is President Trump doing today? Is he helping by being a good role model getting vaccinated and wearing a mask? No. Is he helping respond to this broadscale attack by Russia on all of our major government and military online databases and resources? No. In fact he's suggesting it was China, not Russia. Is he helping with delivering this pandemic relief package? No. He's frankly tweeting conspiracy theories that are baseless about an election he lost six weeks ago. I've always thought that President Trump was mostly a pretend president. Now he's not even pretending. Full audio and video availablehere. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-the-historic-nomination-of-deb-haaland-to-lead-the-department-of-the-interior | Carper Statement on the Historic Nomination of Deb Haaland to Lead the Department of the Interior | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement regarding President-elect Biden's nomination of U.S. Representative Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. In choosing Congresswoman Haaland to be his Interior Secretary nominee, President-elect Biden is fulfilling his commitment to assembling a cabinet that truly embodies the best of our country. Congresswoman Haaland's lived experienceas a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and member of the House Natural Resources Committeemakes her an excellent fit to lead the Department of Interior. From White Sands to the Brandywine, our public lands are national treasures. They are sanctuaries that we share with the natural world. They are places we can safely escape to for outdoor recreation during a deadly pandemic. And they deserve to be maintained for future generations. After four years of attacks by the Trump Administration and the ever-present threat of climate change, the American people need someone leading Interior who will fiercely protect our public lands and our wildlife. They have that leader in Congresswoman Haaland. Delaware may not boast thousands of miles of wide-open spaces or sprawling mountain ranges, but we are home to natural wonders of our own. Our state's wetlands, waterways, and other natural spaces are ecologically important, and teeming with diverse wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. Our National Park tells the story of the earliest days of our democracy while our National Wildlife Refuges provide safe harbors for migratory birds. These spaces draw hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, as eco-tourism and outdoor recreation play a big role in our small state's economy. The Secretary of Interior plays a critically important role for our state, and I look forward to hearing Congresswoman Haaland's ideas about the ways we can protect our natural resources and support conserv… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/video-delaware-delegation-underscores-confidence-by-taking-covid-19-vaccine | [VIDEO] Delaware delegation underscores confidence by taking COVID-19 vaccine | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester encourage COVID-19 protection through vaccination, face covering, and social distancing WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.)underscored their confidence in the remarkable work of scientists and public servants across the United States and around the world by taking the first of two doses ofaCOVID-19 vaccine. In avideo released by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), the Delaware congressional delegation says,It's great news that we have multiple vaccines that aresafe, effective, and critical to beating this pandemic. We are so grateful to the scientists and researchers around the globe who have made this day possible. And to all the health care heroes who have put their own lives at risk to care for others. To reach the other side of this pandemic, we're going to need everyone to learn the facts about the vaccine and get vaccinated too. It's about protecting yourself, your loved ones, and everyone in our state. But don't forget, even as vaccines begin to be distributed, we can't let our guard down. Keep washing your hands, wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and limiting interactions with others. If we all do, we'll all get to the other side safely together DPH is regularly updating their website with information about the COVID-19 vaccine athttps://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/. FOR PRESS:To download photos, clickhere. The representatives received the vaccination at the recommendation of the Capitol physician as part of continuity of government protocol. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/delaware-delegation-underscores-confidence-by-taking-covid-19-vaccine | Delaware delegation underscores confidence by taking COVID-19 vaccine | 2020-12-19 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.)underscored their confidence in the remarkable work of scientists and public servants across the United States and around the world by taking the first of two doses ofaCOVID-19 vaccine. In avideo released by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), the Delaware congressional delegation says,It's great news that we have multiple vaccines that aresafe, effective, and critical to beating this pandemic. We are so grateful to the scientists and researchers around the globe who have made this day possible. And to all the health care heroes who have put their own lives at risk to care for others." To reach the other side of this pandemic, we're going to need everyone to learn the facts about the vaccine and get vaccinated too. It's about protecting yourself, your loved ones, and everyone in our state. But don't forget, even as vaccines begin to be distributed, we can't let our guard down. Keep washing your hands, wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and limiting interactions with others. If we all do, we'll all get to the other side safely together" DPH is regularly updating their website with information about the COVID-19 vaccine athttps://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/. The representatives received the vaccination at the recommendation of the Capitol physician as part of continuity of government protocol. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-meets-with-president-elect-biden-s-nominee-to-lead-ustr | Carper Meets with President-Elect Bidens Nominee to Lead USTR | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after meeting with Katherine Tai, President-elect Joe Biden's intended nominee to lead the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). It was a pleasure meeting today with Katherine Tai who is an excellent and historic choice to serve as our country's top trade official. In her current role as Chief Trade Counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, she was a lead negotiator on USMCA where she helped to pass the strongest labor and environmental protections to date, including robust monitoring and enforcement provisions, in a trade agreement that passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. She also previously served as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement at USTR, leading efforts to hold China accountable for its unfair trade practices at the World Trade Organization. I know that Katherine Tai's experience and expertise will be incredible assets for the Biden Administration as they work to ensure that there are clear and fair rules of the road on trade that help American workers compete and win in the global economy, while also holding bad actors accountable. After years of chaos and uncertainty thanks to President Trump's haphazard trade wars, we know that American farmers, manufacturers, producers and retailers are in desperate need of more certainty and predictability. I know Katherine Tai will be a steady hand at USTR who will help to make sure American goods and services can reach international markets and that they compete on a level playing field when they get there. Trade is an issue that doesn't distinguish between red and blue states. It impacts every corner of our country and every corner of our globe. I know there are many areas in which we can work together in Congress to put American businesses, workers, and consumers ahead of politics, as we have done finding ways to rebalance trade authority between the legislative and executive branches and conducting oversight of the Administration's … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-appointment-of-gina-mccarthy-as-white-house-climate-czar | Carper Statement on Appointment of Gina McCarthy as White House Climate Czar | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after President-elect Biden appointment former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to serve as the White House Climate Czar. It's hard to imagine a person better prepared for this job. Before she was administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy worked for five Republican governors, including Mitt Romney in Massachusetts. Her long history of work at the state and local level makes her a consensus builder by trade. When Gina McCarthy was called to serve in the Obama-Biden Administration as EPA's Assistant Administrator for Air in 2009, her nomination sailed through the Senate unanimously, but the job itself was no easy task. Prior to her coming to office, nearly early every major clean air regulation by the Bush administration had been rejected by the courts, one by one. By her first day on the job at the EPA air office, Gina McCarthy was tasked with writing many major rules in just a matter of years. But she rose to the challenge, and she rewrote rules that would lead to better air quality and a better climate across our countryall during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. She successfully developed our nation's first-ever greenhouse gas vehicle standards, helping to save consumers money and curb emissions from our nation's largest source of global warming pollution. She also developed long-awaited regulations to reduce mercury and other air toxics from our nation's power plants and address air pollution that crossed over state borders.If Gina McCarthy's subject matter expertise is matched by anything, it's by her dogged persistence and relentless determination. After putting in place safeguards that ushered in dramatic improvements to our nation's air quality, Gina McCarthy was nominated to serve as EPA Administrator. As the head of EPA, she positioned the agency to fight the climate cr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-the-nomination-of-brenda-mallory-to-lead-the-white-house-council-on-environmental-quality | Carper Statement on the Nomination of Brenda Mallory to Lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement regarding President-elect Biden's nomination of Brenda Mallory to serve as chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). After four years and countless efforts by the outgoing administration to undermine our nation's landmark environmental statutes, there will be few jobs more challenging than restoring the mission of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. In Brenda Mallory, President-elect Biden has chosen a supremely qualified nominee to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality and coordinate government-wide efforts to address the climate crisis and achieve environmental equity. One of my earliest mentors, the former Governor of Delaware, Russell Peterson, served as chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality during both the Nixon and Ford Administrations. Russ often likened the role of CEQ chair to an orchestra conductoryou don't play the instruments, but you try to ensure that everyone is playing in harmony. The CEQ chair coordinates action across the entire government to ensure federal agencies are working in harmony; that every federal decision advances the objectives of economic growth, better public health and stronger environmental quality. But, while the CEQ chair works like a conductor to achieve harmony across federal agencies, it must also pursue harmony between our economy, our society and our shared environment for current and future generations. Those are the clear objectives of CEQ laid out in the National Environmental Policy Act, the landmark environmental law that created CEQ. But sadly, for the last four years, the actions of CEQ have been unaligned with its mission. The agency even worked to undermine the NEPA statute at the core of its foundation. Instead of advancing those three objectives a more productive economy, a healthier society and a cleaner environment the outgoing a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-the-nomination-of-jennifer-granholm-to-lead-the-department-of-energy | Carper Statement on the Nomination of Jennifer Granholm to Lead the Department of Energy | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement regarding President-elect Biden's nomination of former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. In his announcement of Governor Granholm to be his Energy Secretary nominee, President-elect Biden has chosen one of the brightest and most capable people to lead the U.S. Department of Energy. Governor Granholm is an executive whose leadership has been tested by crisis. While her passion for clean energy is driven by personal conviction an unwavering belief in the potential of American ingenuity and innovation it is also grounded in deep experience and subject matter expertise. When the eyes of the world were on Michigan and the iconic American auto industry descended into financial disarray, Governor Granholm went to bat for working families and businesses in her state. She worked directly with President Obama and Vice President Biden to defend and deliver the auto industry from economic collapse, saving the millions of jobs depending on the industry to survive. It's been said that the ultimate test of a leader is how they handle a crisis. With Governor Granholm at the helm, the state of Michigan emerged from the depths of the Great Recession even stronger as a national leader in clean energy technologies. Governor Granholm believes in the potential of American innovation and ingenuity because she has seen it for herself. She has witnessed the same companies that once relied on the internal combustion engine evolve, and now lead the world in electric and alternative fuel vehicle technologies. Governor Granholm has proven that investments in clean energy technologies can usher in economic recovery, renewal and prosperity. Her strategic vision helped to make Michigan a leader in clean energy manufacturingjust imagine what she will do at the U.S. Department of Energy. She will harness the department's tremendous… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-the-nomination-of-michael-regan-to-lead-the-environmental-protection-agency | Carper Statement on the Nomination of Michael Regan to Lead the Environmental Protection Agency | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement regarding President-elect Biden's nomination of Michael Regan to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Restoring and reviving the Environmental Protection Agency after the last four years will be no walk in the park. This is a federal agency whose decisions affect each and every one of us in this country, each and every dayfrom the drinking water that flows from our faucets, to the products we use in our homes, to the air we draw into our lungs with every breath. This is also an agency that has been basically decimated by the outgoing administration, and whose decisions over the last four years have prioritized industry at steep costs to human health and the environment. Meanwhile, if you look across the country, what you will see is a nation suffering the loss of more than 300,000 Americans to a deadly pandemic. You will see a nation reeling from the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression and reckoning with systemic racial oppression, injustice and inequality. Everywhere you look in this country, you will see that the climate crisis is already here and threatening the water we drink, the air we breathe and the only home we have, our planet. Righting the ship at EPA would be difficult under any circumstance, but, right now, in this moment for our country, it poses a tremendous challenge for any leader. It also presents an opportunity. All eyes have been on this nomination for some time now because of the enormous responsibility it entails. Fortunately for President-elect Biden and all of us, for that matter there was no shortage of highly qualified public servants ready to roll up their sleeves and take on this challenge. In Secretary Michael Regan, President-elect Biden has selected a forward-looking public servant to lead EPA and address the longstanding environmental problems affecting our communiti… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/consumers | Sen. Coons introduces legislation to ensure consumers are treated fairly by algorithms | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation that would ensure American consumers are not being unfairly discriminated against by black box algorithms. As companies are increasingly using complex algorithms to make decisions about opportunities for education, employment, housing, health care, and more, the Algorithmic Fairness Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission to prevent companies from acting on algorithmiceligibility determinations that are deemed unfair because they are biased or use incorrect data. Artificial intelligence brings real benefits to society and opens exciting possibilities. However, it also comes with risks,saidSenator Coons.Companies are increasingly using algorithms to make decisions about who gets a job or a promotion, who gets into a certain school, or who gets a loan. If these decisions are being made by artificial intelligence that is using unfair, biased, or incorrect data, it has an outsized impact on people's lives. Existing civil rights laws may not be capturing these harms, and it is critical that Congress establish a framework to ensure that the United States' transition into the digital economy is rooted in ethics and our values. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and other stakeholders going forward to tackle this complex and pressing problem. The Algorithmic Fairness Act would: Require the FTC to conduct a study about the ways companies are developing and implementing algorithmic eligibility determinationsDirect the FTC to use its Section 5 authority to prevent companies from acting on algorithmic eligibility determinations that are deemed unfair under the FTC's unfairness standardRequire companies to create an audit trail for each algorithmic eligibility determination it makes about a consumer, preserving records about the data and methodology used to make the determination, how the algorithm was created and trained, and the ultimate decision renderedRequire … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/readout-of-sen-coons-meeting-with-ambassador-linda-thomas-greenfield-nominee-for-us-ambassador-to-the-united-nations | Readout of Sen. Coons meeting with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations | 2020-12-17 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committeeand the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the State Department and foreign aid, released the following statement after meeting virtually with Linda Thomas-Greenfield, President-elect Biden's nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. I just completed a productive conversation with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, President-elect Biden's nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, in which we discussed pressing geopolitical and humanitarian challenges facing the incoming Biden-Harris Administration. In her 35 years of diplomatic experience and public service, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has tackled complex issues from finding ways to care for refugees and migrants to stopping the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014. Throughout these challenges, she has earned the respect of leaders and diplomats around the world, and I am confident that she will continue to represent the very best of America as our top official at the United Nations. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I look forward to Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield's nomination hearing andsupporting her swift confirmation in the Senate. Fromreestablishing U.S. leadership at the United Nations to putting our values back at the center of U.S. foreign policy, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will have important work to do, and I plan to do everything I can to support her efforts in the Senate. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-defazio-napolitano-and-beyer-lead-members-of-congress-in-filing-amicus-brief-over-trump-administration-s-dirty-water-rule | Carper, DeFazio, Napolitano, and Beyer Lead Members of Congress in Filing Amicus Brief over Trump Administrations Dirty Water Rule | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Representative Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, and Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) submitted an amicus brief on behalf of 74 current Members of Congress, as well as three former Members, to the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, in the case of Conservation Law Foundation et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency et al. In the amicus brief, the lawmakers assert that the Trump administration's so-called Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR)also known as the Dirty Water Ruleignores science, fails to provide Congress with basic information about the impacts of this rule, and undermines the ability of states to protect their own water quality. In 1972, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act, a landmark statute with the core objective of cleaning up the nation's waters. The NWPR turns this statutory scheme on its head, the lawmakers wrote. the NWPR is arbitrary, capricious, and grounded in misunderstandings of governing statutory law. Finalized in April 2020, the Dirty Water Rule is a draconian rollback of clean water protections over the nation's rivers, streams, and wetlands, jeopardizing the safe drinking water of over a hundred million American households. The Dirty Water Rule reinterprets decades-old Clean Water Act protections endorsed by Republican and Democratic administrations alikevirtually assuring the destruction of rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands throughout the nation. Internal EPA documents estimate that the Dirty Water Rule would eliminate federal clean water protections for as many as 60 percent of stream miles in the lower 48 states that do not flow year-roundalmost 2 million stream milesand an estimated 110 million acres of wetlands. Read the lawmakers' full amicus brief here. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-meets-with-president-elect-biden-s-nominee-for-treasury-secretary | Carper Meets With President-elect Bidens Nominee for Treasury Secretary | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after meeting with Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's intended nominee to lead the Treasury Department. Senator Carper's statement when Janet Yellen's nomination was announced can be found here. Today, I had the pleasure of meeting with Janet Yellen, an exceptionally qualified and renowned economist who will help President-Elect Biden build back a stronger and more inclusive economy as American families face these challenging times. During our conversation, we talked about the importance of embarking on an economic recovery that not only supports families and communities that have been devastated by the pandemic, but also puts us on a more equitable and sustainable path going forward. We also discussed the existential threat that climate change poses to our economy and how a Treasury Secretary can contribute to President-elect Biden's ambitious climate agenda. It is nearly impossible to find any individual more qualified for this position than Janet Yellen. She is a historic choice for Treasury and her track record of success has earned her well-deserved respect from Republicans and Democrats alike for good reason. As we seek to get our economy back on track, I encourage my colleagues to swiftly confirm Janet. With the monumental economic challenges our country is facing, there is absolutely no time to waste. I know she will be ready on day one. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-meets-with-president-elect-biden-s-nominee-to-lead-omb | Carper Meets with President-Elect Bidens Nominee to Lead OMB | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after meeting with Neera Tanden, President-elect Joe Biden's intended nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This week I had the chance to meet with Neera Tanden, an experienced policy expert who is qualified and ready to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President-elect Joe Biden at an incredibly challenging time. Neera's vast understanding of the different working parts of government from her time in the Senate, her experience helping craft the Affordable Care Act at HHS, and her latest role as the CEO and president of the Center for American Progress, will serve as a huge asset as she takes on the role of OMB Director.As the daughter of single mother who relied on programs like food stamps and Section 8 housing, Neera also knows firsthand the important role safety net programs play in helping support families in their time of need. Her lived experience will help keep the needs of families and vulnerable communities top of mind as our government makes critical policy decisions to bring economic relief to American families and get our economy going again. During our conversation today, we discussed the shared responsibility Democrats and Republicans have to come together to enact a cohesive COVID response and OMB's role in making sure all the tools of government are utilized effectively to deliver for American families and meet the urgency of this moment. Neera understands we are facing a national crisis and that it will take an all hands on desk approach to put an end to this pandemic and restore our economy. There is no shortage of work that we need OMB to get started on quickly. A top priority must be reversing the harmful and far-reaching rollbacks that the Trump Administration has put in place across our federal government over the last four years. As the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), I am particularly concerned about the Trump Administratio… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-republicans-repeated-efforts-to-push-misinformation-about-the-2020-election | Carper Statement on Republicans Repeated Efforts to Push Misinformation about the 2020 Election | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Sen. Carper: If our nation's leaders don't embrace the truth in our daily discourse, then we no longer have a democracy that will endure. Calling an election unfair does not make it so. WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released the following statement regarding Chairman Ron Johnson's (R-Wis.) continued efforts to promote Russian disinformation and use official Senate time and resources to advance partisan objectives. Mr. Chairman, President Lincoln once said, If given the truth, [the people] can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.' In the Navy, that's what we call the straight skinny.' With all due respect, the American people have had the real facts regarding this election for some time now. The truth, the straight skinny, is staring us in the face. It may not be what President Trump and his supporters wanted, but Joe Biden and Kamala Harris received more votes than any other ticket in American history. That's a success for our democracy and something that all of us should celebrate. A success made possible in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic thanks to ordinary citizens who volunteered as poll workers. Many of them risked their own health to oversee a fair count, while hundreds of thousands of postal workers worked tirelessly to deliver absentee ballots. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency has called this election the most secure in American history.' And throughout this country, courts have flat out rejected claims of election irregularities. Conservative, Trump-appointed judges in state after state have dismissed the Trump campaign's claims, calling them baseless' and worse. Let me cite just a few examples. In response to a legal challenge from the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania, a federal judge appointed by President Trump, and a longtime member of the conservative Federalist Society, w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/readout-of-sen-coons-meeting-with-tony-blinken-nominee-for-secretary-of-state | Readout of Sen. Coons meeting with Tony Blinken, nominee for Secretary of State | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committeeand the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the State Department and foreign aid, released the following statement after meeting virtually with Tony Blinken, President-elect Biden's nominee for Secretary of State. I just finished a productive conversation with Tony Blinken,President-elect Biden's nominee for Secretary of State, about the difficult challenges and exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the United States and the Biden Administration. I have known and worked with Tony for more than a decade, and I am confident that he will be a successful, effective diplomatforour country. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I look forward to Tony's confirmation hearings, and I plan to advocate for his quick confirmation with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues. Fromrebuilding confidence in American leadershiptorestoring our alliances around the world, Tony and the State Department have critical work to do, and I plan to do everything I can to support those efforts in the Senate. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-graham-whitehouse-sullivan-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-ocean-plastic-pollution-and-marine-litter | Sens. Coons, Graham, Whitehouse, Sullivan introduce bipartisan legislation to combat ocean plastic pollution and marine litter | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced legislation that would bring the international community together to address the increasing amount of plastic and trash polluting our oceans and marine environments. The Unify Nations in Trash Elimination (UNITE) for our Oceans Act would direct the U.S. government to work with international partners to finance promising projects that promote the sustainable management of materials and reduce the amount of plastic and other waste polluting the world's oceans. Each year, billions of pounds of trash much of it plastic makes its way into our oceans. This incredible amount of harmful material is having devastating effects not only on marine animals and ecosystems, but also on human health and economies around the world,said Senator Coons. We cannot address this problem alone. I am proud to lead this bill with my colleague, Senator Graham, to ensure the United States collaborates with the international community to address this critical issue. This is a major step forward for the United States. We're going to lead the way with a global fund to aggressively deal with plastics in our oceans,said Senator Graham.This new initiative is an effort by America to put our money where our mouth is and will be used to leverage other nations to contribute so we have an all-hands-on-deck approach to dealing with the overwhelming problem presented by plastics in the ocean. If we don't find answers fast, we'll have more tons of plastic waste in our oceans than living fish by the middle of the century. Solving that problem requires work with other nations on new international solutions,said Senator Whitehouse. I'm excited that Senators Graham and Coons, and my ocean plastics partner Senator Sullivan, have joined together to introduce this bipartisan bill to combat a massive challenge facing our oceans. The UNITE for our Oceans Act is set to build on the groundswell of bipartisan progress … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-inhofe-celebrate-40-years-of-the-us-african-development-foundation | Sens. Coons, Inhofe celebrate 40 years of the U.S. African Development Foundation | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTONToday, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced a resolution to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), an independent U.S. government agency that supports community development in sub-Saharan Africa. The USADF and the people that support their work are dedicated, results-oriented champions of the U.S.-Africa relationship. As the only U.S. government agency focusing 100% on the continent and largely with Indigenous peoples USADF's style of community development has contributed to four decades of improved relations and better livelihoods for people across Africa,said Senator Coons.Today, we celebrate 40 years of progress and look toward USADF's continued role in a more peaceful and prosperous continent. I am proud to introduce a resolution today with Senator Coons honoring the United States African Development Foundation's 40th anniversary,Senator Inhofe said.USADF has for years given local entrepreneurs resources and opportunities to develop, grow and scale their businessesimproving their lives. Africa holds a special place in my heart and I look forward to continuing to support the USADF and the U.S.-Africa relationship for years to come. Founded on December 16, 1980, the USADF has invested in a pan-African network of local implementing partners to promote entrepreneurship, food security, and economic development in underserved and hard to reach communities. USADF is consistently ranked as one of the most efficient providers of U.S. foreign assistance by the Center for Global Development. The full text of the resolution is availablehere. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-tillis-condemn-irans-human-rights-record | Sens. Coons, Tillis condemn Irans human rights record | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the SenateHuman RightsCaucus, issued the following statement. This week, the United States imposed sanctions on Iranian officials for the abduction and probable death of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, officially confirming the Iranian government's responsibility for his disappearance. As co-chairs of the SenateHuman RightsCaucus, we are appalled by the Iranian government's continued violations of thehuman rights of foreigners, dual nationals, and its own citizens. In just the past few weeks, the Iranian government sent Iranianhuman rightslawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh back to prison despite her poor health and COVID-19, and executed journalist Ruhollah Zam, who played an important role in supporting anti-regime protests in Iran three years ago. Additionally, Siamak Namazi, an American-Iranian businessman, has been arbitrarily detainedin Iran for over five years, and his father, Baquer, is barred from leaving the country. These names are just a few in a long list of brave individuals who have had their fundamental rights and freedoms repeatedly violated by the Iranian government. In addition to addressing Iran's nuclear program, its ballistic missile tests, and its support for violent militant groups across the Middle East, the United States must be clear in condemning Iran'shuman rightsabuses. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-the-nomination-of-pete-buttigieg-to-lead-the-department-of-transportation | Carper Statement on the Nomination of Pete Buttigieg to Lead the Department of Transportation | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Pete Buttigieg to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. President-elect Biden promised the American people that we will build back better, and, with Pete Buttigieg at the helm of the Department of Transportation, we will. As the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg has demonstrated that he is a leader with the heart of a servant and the vision we need at the Department of Transportation to break ground on a better future for all Americans. The future of our nation's transportation system is not just about connecting one place to another, it's about connecting us to each other, safely and sustainably. Sometimes, building back better means breaking down the barriers that divide and disconnect usfrom the underused highways to the busy high-speed roads that too often divide communities and create obstacles for daily life. Pete has spent his life breaking down barriers of his own. And now, poised to serve as the first openly gay Senate-confirmed member of a presidential cabinet, Pete Buttigieg is breaking down barriers again. The mission of the Department of Transportation has traditionally rested on two pillars, safety and economic productivity. Pete Buttigieg understands both of these pillars. As mayor of South Bend, he focused on building a safer, more connected and more prosperous community for everyone. At the forefront of a new generation of leaders, Pete Buttigieg also understands the urgency and gravity of the climate crisis. He knows that the Department of Transportation must adopt a third pillar in its mission ensuring our nation's transportation networks are resilient to climate change and putting our transportation sector on a path to achieve net zero-emissions no later than 2050. Our nation's transportation infrastructure should uplift everyone not just the privileged few to more opportunity, but where we invest and how we invest … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-welcomes-decision-to-remove-sudan-from-state-sponsor-of-terrorism-list | Sen. Coons welcomes decision to remove Sudan from State Sponsor of Terrorism List | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,released the following statement on the U.S. government's decision to remove Sudan from a list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. Sudan's removal from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list is a welcome and historic step forward in the U.S.-Sudan relationship. In 2019, after 30 years of brutal rule by the dictatorship of Omar al Bashir, the Sudanese people undertook tremendous risk and sacrifice to lead a peaceful revolution and demand a brighter future. Sudan's transitional government under the leadership of Prime Minister Hamdok has continued to take steps to earn this delisting, and I am pleased to see the removal of this barrier to Sudan's ability to participate in the international community. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue to strengthen and deepen ties with Sudan to help the country build on the progress of this announcement. We should start with Congress coming together with the executive branch to pass legal peace for Sudan as soon as possible in a manner that respects the rights of all victims of terrorism. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-sen-coons-on-covid-relief-we-have-to-move-forward-on-this-748-billion-that-we-all-agree-on | [VIDEO] Sen. Coons on COVID relief: We have to move forward on this $748 billion that we all agree on | 2020-12-15 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del.Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)joinedCNN New Day to discuss the bipartisan legislationannounced Mondaythat would provide $748 billion in relief to the American people. On state and local aid, Senator Coons said,As someone who was a county-level elected leader for a decade and is close to lots of state and local elected officials around the country who I know from my service at the local level, there are nurses and teachers, paramedics, police officers who are facing layoffs in municipalities, counties and states around the country. Roughly 1.3 million have already been laid off. On COVID-19 relief negotiations, Senator Coons said,this group of eight bipartisan senators and two House members worked for weeks and crafted a substantial bipartisan framework for a $908 billion in relief for our country. It's only because Mitch McConnell continues to insist on a broad and extreme version of liability relief to protect businesses, no matter how irresponsibly they behave, that we are having to walk away from that 160 [billion dollars for state and local governments]. I continue to believe that if our goal is to allow businesses to reopen safely and for employees and customers to go back to businesses safely, that we can find a compromise, but we have to move forward on this $748 billion that we all agree on. We should not go home without enacting significant relief for the American people who are so much in need right now as we go into the holidays. On the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine, Senator Coons said,I think it's important for our most senior elected officials in this country and for senior community leaders whether they are athletes or entertainers or business leaders to strengthen the confidence of the American people in these vaccines. If we do not achieve a very high percentage of vaccination, we won't see the other side of this pandemic, and frankly, John, we need to be also committed to delivering vaccines for the rest of the world because only when the world is vaccinated will this … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-statement-on-bipartisan-covid-19-relief-bill | Sen. Coons statement on bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill | 2020-12-14 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)released the following statement on bipartisan legislation announced today that would provide $748 billion in COVID-19 relief to the American people. I am grateful to the bipartisan group of eight senators who have worked for weeks to deliver a strong, balanced proposal that will provide desperately needed relief to families in Delaware and across the country. I hear from Delawareans every day who are struggling who have lost their job, their car, their hope, and others who are now at risk of losing their home. The bill announced today will provide help for those facing eviction or foreclosure, support for those who are unemployed, as well as funding for schools, vaccine distribution, and small businesses fighting to stay afloat. With more than 16 million Americans infected and 300,000 dead, we cannot afford to wait any longer to act. This should not be Congress' last COVID relief bill, but it is a strong compromise that deserves support from both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. We cannot leave for the holidays without getting relief to those Americans who need it. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-sen-coons-we-should-not-leave-for-the-holidays-until-we_give-a-next-round-of-relief | [VIDEO] Sen. Coons: We should not leave for the holidays until we give a next round of relief | 2020-12-14 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del.On Sunday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)joinedChuck Todd on NBC's Meet the Press to discuss the bipartisan framework for a $908 billion COVID-19 relief package and the immediate need for Congress to work together to pass relief for the American people. There is now, I think, real optimism because a terrific group of eight senators, a bipartisan group along with two members of the House, have worked hard over the last couple of weeks and came forward with a framework, a $908 billion framework, Chuck, for a next round of needed relief,said Senator Coons. We should not leave for the holidays until we have adopted that $908 billion framework to give a next round of relief to the millions of Americans who are facing eviction, hunger, unemployment, disease. It includes funding for vaccine distribution and $300 billion for small businesses to keep them afloat or help them reopen. I'm really optimistic we can get this done this coming week. Senator Coons concluded,we have to address the trust deficit in our country, trust in science and vaccines, trust in each other after this election. The Senate here can lead and show that we can deliver the kind of relief that will restore hope to the American people. Full audio and video availablehere. A transcript is provided below. Q: Joining me now is Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. Senator Coons, welcome back to Meet the Press. I want to start with something that Governor Chris Sununu said to me on Friday on Meet the Press Daily. It was about all of you guys in Congress. Take a listen, sir. Clip, Gov. Sununu: I don't think any of them deserve their jobs, frankly. None of them can stand up and say as a congressman or a senator, I led on the biggest health crisis this country has ever faced. They fell down and let politics get in the way. Shame on them. Q: Senator Coons, can you defend Congress from that criticism? Sen. Coons:Well, Chuck, thanks for a chance to be on again. First, I'm just going to celebrate the combination of two things: that nine m… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/carper-coons-blunt-rochester-secure-major-wins-for-delaware-in-ndaa | Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester secure major wins for Delaware in NDAA | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) applauded the passage of the FiscalYear 2021NationalDefense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which each of them voted to support. The bill includes a3% pay raise for troops, improvements to veterans' access to care, new programs forHistorically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), andmore. I'm proud that Congress has come together to pass the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act, which will ensure the men and women in our Armed Forces have the necessary resources to keep our country and our citizens safe,said Senator Carper, a 23-year veteran of the Navy and Naval Reserves.By working together across party lines, this year's NDAA will increase pay for our troops, invest in improving base housing for military families, and create better access to health care for our Vietnam veterans. I'm especially proud that during these hard times, we also delivered for Delawareans by securing resources for ROTC students in HBCUs like Delaware State University, support for Delaware jobs, and critical investments to modernize Delaware Air National Guard's fleet of C-130 aircraft. This bill will improve our military readiness by upholding our promise to support our nation's veterans, service members and their families. For 60 years, Congress has passed an annual defense bill to ensure the readiness of our troops and the defense of our country. I'm proud that we also secured meaningful wins in the bill for all Delawareans,said Senator Coons.The FY21 NDAA includes support for ROTC students at HBCUs like Delaware State University,better care for our veterans, support for Delaware jobs, and more. It has been a year of unprecedented challenges, and this bill helps Delawareans and Americansto meet themat home and abroad. One of the most serious and consequential obligations of our Congressional Delegation is working together to secure key provisions in the annual National Defense Authorization Act,said Representative Blunt Ro… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-bipartisan-bill-to-promote-sustainable-chemistry-to-become-law | Senator Coons bipartisan bill to promote sustainable chemistry to become law | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate today includes the bipartisanSustainableChemistry Research and Development Actof 2019, ledbyU.S. SenatorChris Coons (D-Del.)and cosponsored by SenatorsSusan Collins (R-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.). The bill will support American manufacturing and American jobs while also protecting human health and the environment by helping to realize the full innovation and market potential of sustainablechemistry technologies. The bill now heads to the president's desk and is expected to become law this week. Thechemical sector is an integral part of Delaware's economy, andI am proud thatthislegislation will support greenchemistryinnovation,create new companies and jobs, andpromote sustainable use of resources,said Senator Coons. By creating a cohesivenationalvision for sustainablechemistry researchanddevelopment, improving training ofchemists and other professionals,and building new partnerships with the private sector,this billis an exciting opportunity to maintain our scientific leadership and ensure the sustainability of ourchemical enterprise for years to come. Having worked closely with industry and academia to further sustainable technology innovation, DESCA is excited to see the passing of the SustainableChemistry R&D Act to coordinate the efforts of government in concert with these sectors for a cohesive strategy to drive innovation, build and strengthen talent, and ultimately drive economic growth. Critically, coordinating efforts in education and training as well as technology development, removing barriers to technology commercialization, and eliminating duplicative funding and research efforts will be among the key drivers of the success of this initiative,said Dora Cheatham, Executive Director, Delaware SustainableChemistry Alliance. By advancing sustainablechemistry research, education, training and commercialization, this legislation will provide critical benefits for people… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-blunt-and-reps-fitzpatrick-castro-celebrate-passage-of-global-child-thrive-act | Sens. Coons, Blunt & Reps. Fitzpatrick, Castro celebrate passage of Global Child Thrive Act | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), along with U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), celebrated the passage of the Global Child Thrive Act, which was included in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. The bipartisan legislation strengthens the implementation of policies that advance early childhood development internationally, which includes learning and physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development for children younger than eight years old. With nearly 250 million children in low- and middle-income countries suffering from poor development due to poverty and stunting alone, it's critical that that we do everything possible to support children in meeting their developmental milestones,said Senator Coons.I'm pleased that the Senate passed the bipartisan Global Child Thrive Act, which I have been proud to champion with Senator Blunt. Together, we understand the value of investing in the reduction of preventable child deaths worldwide and ensuring the healthy development of future generations. Children who experience poverty and hunger in their earliest years face developmental challenges that could shape their entire lives,said Senator Blunt.This bill would strengthen our country's childhood development policies across the world, especially those affecting the most vulnerable children. I've been proud to work with Senator Coons and Representatives Fitzpatrick and Castro on this bill, and I appreciate our colleagues' support on this critical issue. I am thrilled to see our bipartisan and bicameral Global Child Thrive Act in this year's NDAA. One of my greatest concerns has always been the welfare of children, not just children in the United States but children across the globe,said Congressman Fitzpatrick.I would like to thank Rep. Castro, Sen. Coons, and Sen. Blunt for their partnership on getting our legislation over the finish line. It is of the utmost importance that we help other countries help their child… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-rubio-praise-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-us-israel-strategic-alliance | Sens. Coons, Rubio praise passage of their bipartisan bill to strengthen US-Israel strategic alliance | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and MarcoRubio(R-Fla.) applauded the passage of their bipartisanUnited States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act(S.3176), which was included in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bipartisan bill will strengthen the U.S.-Israel strategic alliance by authorizing $3.3 billion in annual security assistance consistent with the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding and ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and address both conventional and emerging threats. A strong U.S.-Israel relationship remains a bipartisan priority. The $3.3 billion in annual security assistance codified today was agreed to in a Memorandum of Understanding negotiated and signed by President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu in 2016,Senator Coons said.Tensions in the region continue to threaten Israeli security, and I'm proud that Congress is deepening the strategic U.S.-Israel alliance and bilateral non-security cooperation in the face of these challenges. The inclusion of this important and bipartisan bill in this year's NDAA reaffirms our nation's unwavering support to our strongest ally in the Middle East: the Jewish State of Israel,Senator Rubio said.As Israel faces unprecedented threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other malign actors, we must continue to advance initiatives that protect and support our mutual security interests. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-scott-bill-to-strengthen-partnerships-between-hbcus-like-dsu-and-federal-agencies-heads-to-presidents-desk-to-become-law | Sens. Coons, Scott bill to strengthen partnerships between HBCUs like DSU and federal agencies heads to presidents desk to become law | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, the Senate passed the HBCU Propelling Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students (PARTNERS) Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.). The bill, previously passed in the House of Representatives, is now headed to the President's desk for signature.If signed into law, this legislation will strengthen partnerships between federal agencies and the country's more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The HBCU PARTNERS Act builds on the president's 2017 executive order on HBCUs and provides pathways for Congressional oversight and public engagement. It will require federal agencies with relevant grants and programs to undertake annual planning and coordinate their efforts to support and expand HBCU participation in those programs. The bill strengthens the rigor and transparency requirements of existing law by requiring that agencies track their progress toward past goals and share their plans with Congress. In addition, it codifies the President's Board of Advisors on HBCUs, ensuring an ongoing avenue for the institutions' priorities and policy concerns to be raised. HBCUs like Delaware State University play a critical role in helping to ensure that every American has access to higher education, and I'm so proud that our bipartisan bill to support the missions of HBCUs is one step closer to becoming law, said Senator Coons. We have much more work ahead to make college accessible and affordable for all Americans, and HBCUs are an important part of that work,said Senator Coons. OurHBCUs have unlocked opportunities for generations of students, especially in underserved communities, and I am excited that this bipartisan bill is making its way to thePresident's desk,said Senator Scott. TheHBCU PARTNERSAct is a great step forward for these schools and their students.Ilook forward tothis criticallegislation being signed into law to help these institutions continue their legacies. "Once again, Delaware's Congressional Delegationh… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-tillis-reps-brown-blunt-rochester-murphy-celebrate-passage-of-bill-to-train-pilots-support-rotc-students-at-hbcus | Sens. Coons, Tillis, Reps. Brown, Blunt Rochester, Murphy celebrate passage of bill to train pilots, support ROTC students at HBCUs | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the Senate today includesThe Fostering Leadership and Inclusion by Growing HBCU Training (FLIGHT) Act of 2020, legislation led by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and U.S. Representatives Anthony Brown (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.),and Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-N.C.).The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.).The FLIGHT Act will provide new resources for Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and minority institutions, with special emphasis on support for flight training. The bill now heads to the president's desk for signature. I am proud that the NDAA includes the bipartisan FLIGHT Act, which will help ensure our leaders and role models in Delaware and across the country reflect the diversity of America itself,said Senator Chris Coons. Our service members come from all walks of life, but people of color remain underrepresented at the military's highest levels. Our current officers in uniform will become our policy experts, our CEOs, and often our political leaders, and the FLIGHT Act is just one of many steps we must take to ensure that those who lead our country also fully represent it. A diverse military makes this country stronger. Through new partnerships with military installations and actively encouraging participation in ROTC and flight training, we'll tap into the exceptional talent at HBCUs and minority institutions,said House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair Anthony Brown.Minority groups are severely underrepresented in our officer corps, and even more so among military pilots and other critical units. The FLIGHT Act is an important step forward for diversity and inclusion in our armed services and I look forward to seeing the next generation of pilots earn their wings. I am thrilled that today's passage of the NDAA includes the FLIGHT Act. I've long talked about the need to ensure that America's pr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-and-tillis-reps-lowenthal-and-pocan-introduce-resolution-honoring-human-rights-day | Sens. Coons and Tillis, Reps. Lowenthal and Pocan introduce resolution honoring Human Rights Day | 2020-12-10 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, and Representatives Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) today introduced resolutions in the United States Senate and House of Representatives honoring Human Rights Day and the 72ndanniversary of the United Nations' ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) and 47 Representatives also joined the resolutions. As co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, I am proud to introduce this resolution on the occasion of Human Rights Day,said Senator Coons.Inthe face of growing illiberalism and authoritarianism around the world, let us celebrate the brave individuals striving for fundamental rights and freedoms, and fight for those who suffer from violence and oppression. Looking to the future, we must rededicate ourselves to the principles outlined in theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights 72 years ago. It's an honor to co-chair the Senate Human Rights Caucus with my good friend Sen. Coons,said Senator Tillis.The mission of the Caucus is to defend and promote internationally recognized human rights norms around the world and contribute to global leadership in advocating for and protecting human rights. At the end of this difficult year, it is important that we take time to recognize these universal values as well as the courageous individuals who have dedicated their lives to upholding them by honoring the 72ndanniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Seventy-two years ago, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted, acknowledging every person is of equal worth and deserves equal dignity,"said Senator Lankford.The United States should continue to stand for fundamental human rights the right to life, the right to freely speak and access information, and the right to freely practice your faith, change your faith or have no faith at all. I'm proud to reaffirm that commitment today. "Since I joined Congress in 2013, I h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-epa-eroding-cost-benefit-analysis-in-rulemaking | Carper Statement on EPA Eroding Cost-Benefit Analysis in Rulemaking | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s final rule to erode the cost-benefit analysis it uses for regulations. In the face of a worsening climate crisis and deadly respiratory pandemic, the Trump Administration has repeatedly acted to put the wellbeing of polluters before human health and the environment. It is something that has become all too common over the past four years. When EPA announced plans to make this change in June, I called it out for what it wasa legally flawed effort to justify air pollution. Clearly, the administration has no intention of giving up in its war on science. In addition to undermining the essential work by career civil servants, changing EPA's cost-benefit process is a waste of time and resources. President-elect Biden is committed to following science and making climate action a key focus of his presidency. I have no doubt that this rule will be reversed by the next administration. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/audio-sen-coons-breaks-down-stimulus-negotiations-on-wdel | [AUDIO] Sen. Coons breaks down stimulus negotiations on WDEL | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)joinedPeter MacArthur on WDEL to discussbipartisan COVID reliefnegotiations and what theycould mean for Delawareans. Senator Coons said,I'm in Washington this week, and we are trying hard to negotiate a bipartisan compromise package. It's $908 billion and it would provide support and relief for small businesses, restaurants that have closed or are suffering real revenue loss. It would provide more money for the distribution of the vaccine. It would provide support for schools and for childcare, support for state and local governments, and another round of $300 a week unemployment checks that would last 13 weeks, so I support this framework. I think it is a badly needed down payment on getting us through the next couple of months. What matters to me is the calls I get from Delawareans every single day folks who were calling in, crying on the phone, saying I've lost my job,' I've lost my car,' I may lose my apartment or my house,' how do I care for my kids?' I don't see how we go home for the holidays particularly as the virus is getting we are at theworst point of this pandemic, more than 40,000 Delawareans infected, more than 800 who passed away,Senator Coons said. Full audio is availablehere. A transcript is provided below. Q: Let's check in with U.S. Senator Chris Coons to talk about where things stand now, Senator, and where you see them going from here. Sen. Coons:Good morning, Peter. It's great to be with you. I'm in Washington this week, and we are trying hard to negotiate a bipartisan compromise package. It's $908 billion and it would provide support and relief for small businesses, restaurants that have closed or are suffering real revenue loss. It would provide more money for the distribution of the vaccines. It would provide support for schools and for childcare, support for state and local governments, and another round of $300 a week unemployment checks that would last 13 weeks, so I support this framework. I think it is a badly needed down payment… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-opposes-sale-of-new-advanced-military-equipment-to-uae | Sen. Coons opposes sale of new, advanced military equipment to UAE | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTONToday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after his votes to support two Senate resolutions disapproving of arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Today, after much deliberation, I voted to support resolutions disapproving of the sales of F-35 fighter jets and armed drones to the United Arab Emirates. Congress must preserve its role in reviewing arms sales. In this case, there has not been a thorough review process and the Trump Administration has not provided adequate consultations and answers to Senators' questions. In a recent classified briefing, the Administration failed to address a number of my concerns. In particular, I am concerned about the UAE's ability to safeguard sensitive American technology and their role in the conflicts in Libya and Yemen. I am grateful for the UAE's bold leadership in normalizing relations with Israel, avoiding annexation of the West Bank, and paving the way for a broader and more stable peace in the region. I also appreciate the Emirati military's role in standing up to Iran's malign activities and their deployments alongside U.S. service members in Afghanistan and against terrorist groups around the region. Even so, in the absence of a thorough review process and without assurances that the use of these weapons will be consistent with U.S. interests and values, I cannot support the sales at this time. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-braun-coons-introduce-bipartisan-climate-legislation-to-support-global-trillion-trees-initiative-and-combat-deforestation | Sens. Braun, Coons introduce bipartisan climate legislation to support global Trillion Trees initiative & combat deforestation | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, introduced legislation to support U.S. leadershipin reducing carbon in the atmospherebyrestoring and conserving forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal habitats. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored the bill. As a lifelong conservationist, I believe that Trillion Trees is a common sense proposal to help improve our land, water, soil, and air, without imposing onerous Washington regulations,said Senator Braun. I am proud to come together with my colleagues on this bipartisan solution to help advance a key objective that President Trump called for in his State of the Union Address. The wildfires and severe stormswe've experienced this yeararea devastating reminder of how climate change is impacting our lands and a clear signal that we need to act now to protect them for future generations,said Senator Coons. Removing carbon from the atmosphere is one of the many critical steps we should take to mitigate climate risks. I'mglad to work with this bipartisan group of senators to invest in a solution that will benefit the health of people and ecosystems around the world. I have long held the position that we can protect our environment without harming our economy, and this legislation is one example of the type of action we can take to reduce emissions and protect our natural resources while creating new economic opportunities,said Senator Young. We just lived through the hottest November on record; every year that carbon levels increase, temperatures increase and it gets harder to stabilize our planet's climate future,said Senator King. Without action, climate change's effects on our planet will grow more and more dangerous, fueling extreme weather events and endangering lives across the globe. Today's bipartisan proposal recognizes the immense value of our working forests in this climate fight, and is a commonsense step in the right direction, call… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-biennial-water-infrastructure-bill-delivers-major-wins-for-delawareans | Carper: Biennial Water Infrastructure Bill Delivers Major Wins for Delawareans | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, applauded House passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020), which would authorize $10 billion in new federal investment to build new water resource development projects across the country, with significant resources authorized for projects in the First State. From improving and expanding water infrastructure to investing in disadvantaged communities, replenishing beaches and improving coastal resilience, WRDA 2020 coauthored by EPW Ranking Member Carper and Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in the Senate and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter Defazio (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-Mo.) in the House would deliver major wins for Delaware. Like the water that moves ships from the Port of Wilmington to ports across the globe, our nation's water infrastructure is essential to the movement of our economy. Ports, shipping channels and other Army Corps of Engineers projects support economic growth, facilitate commerce, sustain jobs and create new ones, too, Senator Carper said. This reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act will expand and enhance investments in Army Corps' projects throughout the country that help us safely navigate our waters and protect our communities from flooding and storm damage. As the lowest lying state in the nation, climate change poses profound threats to Delaware. This legislation will help to fortify communities in the First State against the worsening impacts of climate change and expand funding to rebuild our beaches, Senator Carper continued. I thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for working with Chairman Barrasso and me on this legislation. Among its provisions, WRDA 2020 will: Protect Delaware's beaches from storm damage and assist with their renourishment; Promote resiliency projects in communities throughout the First State to address the impacts of climate change; and… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-portman-release-new-report-on-federal-government-s-failure-to-conduct-adequate-oversight-of-companies-seeking-to-operate-shelters-for-unaccompanied-children | Carper, Portman Release New Report on Federal Governments Failure to Conduct Adequate Oversight of Companies Seeking to Operate Shelters for Unaccompanied Children | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Latest in a series of bipartisan reports shows that gaps in HHS's grant process failed to sufficiently protect unaccompanied children and wasted taxpayer dollars WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), respectively, released a bipartisan staff report identifying failures in the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) shelter grant processes to ensure the safety of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and safeguard over $32 million in taxpayers funds. The report confirms that HHS awarded Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) shelter grants to two companies with a documented history of failing to provide adequate care of children VisionQuest National, Ltd. and New Horizon Group Home, LLC. As a result of their previous failures in caring for children and other regulatory issues, VisionQuest and New Horizon struggled to acquire zoning and licensing approval to open shelters across the country, meaning that taxpayers paid for facilities that will never open. A review of several prior funding opportunity announcements and interviews with HHS officials demonstrated that, prior to fall 2019, HHS did not require grant applicants to disclose prior adverse actions their respective state and local governments had taken against them. The Department conducted no independent research into the disciplinary history of either VisionQuest or New Horizon. These oversight failures could have endangered unaccompanied children trusted to the care of these companies. Additionally, until November 2019, HHS also had no policy to restrict funding for grantees that did not have a license to operate. HHS's policy of awarding grants to applicants, including VisionQuest and New Horizon, prior to the applicants securing zoning and licensing approval led to issues that could cost tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. Currently, HHS is attempting to recoup funds disbursed for facilities that failed to open. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/senators-release-watchdog-report-showing-serious-challenges-facing-the-u-s-national-air-quality-monitoring-system | Senators Release Watchdog Report Showing Serious Challenges Facing the U.S. National Air Quality Monitoring System | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. In case you missed it, yesterday, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) released a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) showing a number of serious challenges facing the vital national air quality monitoring system. When adjusted for inflation, the GAO report shows a steady decline in federal support for state and local monitoring efforts that are central to the basic function of the national air monitoring system. It also shows an uneven understanding of concentrations of dangerous air toxics near industrial facilities.The consequences of these problems tend to hit low-income communities and communities of color the hardest since they are often located in industrial areas and rely on underfunded local programs. To ensure that all Americans can breathe clean air, we must first be able to effectively measure the pollutants that exist and where, said Senator Carper. As we are about to celebrate 50 years of progress with the Clean Air Act, today's GAO report is a reminder that the EPA can and must do better when it comes to protecting the public from air pollution. This report is a wake-up call that investments and updates are needed in our aging air pollution monitoring system. For too long the air monitoring system has been ignored, especially in terms of tracking air toxics, like mercury, in our communities. For a decade, I have worked with Senator Collins on legislation to improve how we track and monitor mercury pollution, S.181, Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act. Today's GAO study gives us just another reason why our legislation and other legislation that improves our air monitoring systems need to pass Congress. An effective air quality monitoring system helps guard against public health threats triggered by air pollution. In downwind states like Rhode Island, missing a bad air day' warning could mean serious consequences for high… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-sen-coons-we-have-a-chance-to-work-together-in-a-bipartisan-way-and-deliver-the-relief-americans-need | [VIDEO] Sen. Coons: We have a chance to work together in a bipartisan way... [and] deliver the relief Americans need | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)joinedMSNBC'sMorning Joeto discuss thebipartisan framework fora$908 billion COVID-19 relief package and theimmediateneed for Congress to work together to pass relief fortheAmericanpeople. On another round of relief checks, Sen. Coons said, What I'm hearing from Delawareans up and down this state is that many cannot pay their rent or mortgage, many have lost their jobs or are afraid that they're not goingto beable to make it through the rest of this winter, and I think another round of relief checks would help make sure that our economy doesn't dip even deeper into a recession in the months that come between now and when we have the vaccine. Onwhetherthe Senatecan pass a relief bill before the holidays, Sen. Coons said,Bluntly, I don't understand how any of us can go home for the holidays and look our constituents in the face or the mask because so many are suffering. This is part of why we have a federal government, is to deal with disasters. On the federal response to COVID-19, Sen. Coons said, And in this particular case, a disjointed federal response, different standards, different direction and frankly the way in which our current president, Donald Trump, has failed to give us a positive and consistent message about the public health crisis we're in has made this worse. Full audio and video is availablehere. A transcript is provided below. Q: Joining us now, one of the senators working on a bipartisan deal, Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. He is also a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Coons, Chris, what's standing in the way of relief checks? Sen. Coons:Well, Mika, we've had a more than six-month impasse from when the House passed a broad solid relief package for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and recession to now. And you just mentioned the key critical issues: whether or not there should be another round of stimulus checks to families and individuals, whether there should be more support for state and local governments,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-blasts-epa-for-failing-to-improve-soot-standards-and-protect-lives | Carper Blasts EPA for Failing to Improve Soot Standards and Protect Lives | 2020-12-07 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) failure to set newer, more protective standards for particulate matter (PM) pollution. This soot-causing air pollution is linked to serious health problems, like asthma, strokes, heart attacks, and early deaths, and research has linked exposure to it to more adverse outcomes from COVID-19. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. In the last hours of the Trump Administration, EPA continues to work around the clock to cement its anti-science, pro-polluter agenda. The Trump EPA's decision to ignore science and keep the current standards unchanged will cost tens of thousands of lives every year into the future, long after the Trump Administration is gone. When EPA announced plans to keep these rules unchanged in April, we were enduring the first wave of a deadly respiratory pandemicone that today has claimed close to 300,000 lives in our country. What was true in April is still true todaythe cost of protecting public health is far less than the cost of breathing polluted air. It has become abundantly clear that COVID-19 is deadlier for Black, brown, and Indigenous Americans, who are also more likely to live in areas with higher levels of particulate matter pollution. The Trump EPA is failing to do its job and protect communities of color from the harmful pollution that's worsening COVID-19 outcomes. Amid the second wave of cases, EPA is still spearheading its own Pandemic of Pollution. In April 2020, Senator Carper condemned EPA, when it announced plans to not develop newer, more protective standards for PM. In June 2020, Senator Carper, along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Robert M… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-coons-announce-completion-of-amtrak-s-third-track-in-wilmington | Carper, Coons Announce Completion of Amtraks Third Track in Wilmington | 2020-12-07 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined representatives from Amtrak to announce a recently completed $71.2 million project to increase capacity between Wilmington and Newark, Del. on the Northeast Corridor. This joint project with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and the Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) includes installation of 1.5 miles of a new, electrified main line third track between Ragan and Yard interlockings, a bridge replacement, and eliminates a previous two-track bottleneck. The change brings improved safety, on-time performance and a reduction in delays. This project is nearly 20 years in the making, and I am thrilled that we are finally going to reap the benefits of improved, more reliable rail service along the Northeast Corridor, said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee and a frequent Amtrak rider. We must continue to improve our nation's transportation infrastructure in a way that promotes multi-modal transportation and takes cars off the road, for the sake of safety, congestion, and our environment. This project is a great example of a good public investment that benefits passengers, drivers, the air we breathe and promotes improvements to rail service in the future. This year started as one of the best for Amtrak, and while ridership is down, the completion of this project and removal of a significant bottleneck will mean more commuter and intercity trains can use the Northeast Corridor and increase the potential volume of rail service through Delaware, said U.S. Sen. Chris Coons. Our transportation system and passenger rail network desperately need additional investment and a focus on building the infrastructure we deserve. This project is an example of how we can make much-needed infrastructure upgrades, and I am grateful for the investments Amtrak has made in Delaware along with the federal government and state to make this project possible. As a regular Amtrak rider myself, I know the im… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/coons-carper-announce-amtraks-third-track-in-wilmington | Coons, Carper announce Amtraks third track in Wilmington | 2020-12-07 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. Today, U.S. Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper and (both D-Del.) joined Amtrak and SEPTA representatives to announce a recently completed $71.2 million project to increase capacity between Wilmington and Newark along the Northeast Corridor. This joint project with the Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Transit Corporation, orDTC,includes installation of 1.5 miles of a new, electrified main line third track between Ragan and Yard interlockings, a bridge replacement, and eliminates a previous two-track bottleneck. The change brings improved safety, on-time performance, and a reduction in delays. This project is nearly 20 years in the making, and I am thrilled that we are finally going to reap the benefits of improved, more reliable rail service along the Northeast Corridor,said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee and a frequent Amtrak rider.We must continue to improve our nation's transportation infrastructure in a way that promotes multi-modal transportation and takes cars off the road, for the sake of safety, congestion, and our environment. This project is a great example of a good public investment that benefits passengers, drivers, the air we breathe and promotes improvements to rail service in the future. This year started as one of the best for Amtrak, and while ridership is down, the completion of this project and removal of a significant bottleneck will mean more commuter and intercity trains can use the Northeast Corridor and increase the potential volume of rail service through Delaware,said U.S. Sen. Chris Coons.Our transportation system and passenger rail network desperately need additional investment and a focus on building the infrastructure we deserve. This project is an example of how we can make much-needed infrastructure upgrades, and I am grateful for the investments Amtrak has made in Delaware along with the federal government and state to make this project possible. As a regular Amtra… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/four-years-ago-today-bipartisan-senators-pay-tribute-to-then-vp-joe-biden-reflect-on-work-together | Four years ago today, bipartisan senators pay tribute to then-VP Joe Biden, reflect on work together | 2020-12-07 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today,U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) shared speeches from Dec. 7, 2016, when senators from both sides of the aisle gathered to pay tribute to then-Vice President Joe Biden following a vote to approve the 21st Century Cures Act, which also included funding for Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative. To view the video compilation on Sen. Coons' Twitter account, please clickhere. Four years ago, Republicans and Democrats came together to reflect on Joe Biden as a friend, a trusted colleague, and a legislative partner,said Senator Coons. These speeches are a testament to Joe's warmth, his heart, and the respect he's earned from Republicans and Democrats alike. I hope this same spirit will guide us as we work together to face the challenges ahead. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/only-10-days-to-get-covered | Only 10 days to get covered! | 2020-12-05 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Dear friend, This year has not been easy. Our normal lives have been upended in ways we never could have imagined. In Delaware, we have lost over 700 brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and grandparents to the coronavirus.Today, and every day, I pray for the loved ones who have had to say goodbye much too soon. While each day brings fresh hardships and difficulties, there is still much we can do to keep our loved ones safe and healthy. That includes ensuring that they have quality, affordable health insurance. From now until December 15th, you can find a plan that works for your family's needs and budgets by visiting healthcare.gov or choosehealthde.com. In the First State, our premiums are down for the second year in a row! And more than 8 out of 10 Delawareans will get financial help to cover premiums and deductibles, which will bring their average premiums to $110 per month. Even if you or someone you know already has insurance, more affordable options may be available. Go to healthcare.gov and see what cost saving alternatives you qualify for. And Delawareans who may need extra help enrolling will have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare, and by certified application counselors at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington and La Red Health Center in Georgetown. We each have a responsibility to keep our loved ones and ourselves safe during these trying times. That means wearing a mask, socially distancing and staying home as much as we can. It also means ensuring we have access to quality, affordable health care. There's no time to waste. To ensure you have health care in 2021, register anytime from today to December 15 at healthcare.gov or choosehealthDE.com and make sure you get covered. Stay safe and stay healthy, Tom Carper | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-epa-s-draft-national-recycling-plan-is-a-wasted-opportunity | Carper: EPAs Draft National Recycling Plan Is A Wasted Opportunity | 2020-12-04 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. As the public comment period for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s draft National Recycling Strategy comes to a close, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, submitted comment on EPA's draft plan and is imploring the EPA to seize the opportunity to reimagine our nation's crumbling recycling system and re-envision and revise its draft National Recycling Strategy. As the co-founder of the Senate Recycling Caucus, and as a passionate, lifelong recycler, I commend EPA for bringing together more than 250 stakeholders to the table to discuss national recycling practices. However, simply bringing together hundreds of stakeholders alone is not a sufficient process for producing a comprehensive national recycling strategy. The product that EPA has put forward for public comment makes that clear, Senator Carper wrote. I'm afraid that this draft National Recycling Strategy is largely a woefully inadequate and unimaginative approach to addressing our country's wide-ranging and complex recycling problems. It would be a wasted opportunity for EPA to press forward without addressing some of the serious flaws in this proposed strategy. In the final days of the Trump Administration, the EPA is hastening to finalize its draft National Recycling Strategy. As it is currently drafted, the draft National Recycling Strategy fails to convey bold and visionary structural changes that would help the United States at the national, state and local level adapt to challenging new international policies and the burgeoning plastic pollution crisis. While China's decision to restrict the import of plastics and mixed paper materials presents an enormous challenge for the United States in the short term, it should also motivate us to consider forward-looking strategies, Senator Carper continued. China's policies and the worsening impacts of waste on our environment and public health demand a creative and aggressive strategy to embrace a circular economy and reth… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/senate-passes-bill-to-rename-thermopolis-post-office-after-lifelong-resident-former-postmaster | Senate passes bill to rename Thermopolis post office after lifelong resident, former postmaster | 2020-12-04 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to rename the Thermopolis, Wyo., post office after former Postmaster Robert Brown, who passed away on September 11, 2020. Brown's career with the U.S. Postal Service spanned 44 years, including 18 years as the postmaster. U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Tom Carper, D-Del., introduced the legislation earlier this year. U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who was Brown's son-in-law, cosponsored the legislation. Renaming the post office after Bob Brown is a fitting tribute to his service first in the military and later as the Thermopolis postmaster, Enzi said. He was born and raised in Thermopolis and exemplified Wyoming values. I'm glad the Senate passed this bill to honor and remember him. Bob Brown was an American hero who inspired everyone who knew him.Renaming the Thermopolis post office after himisa perfect way tohonor his memory,Barrasso said. Bob, my late father-in-law, served as postmaster in Thermopolis for many years after returning from his service in WWII and Korea. Many knew him as the nicest guy in town. I am deeply appreciative of Senator Enzi and Senator Carper's work to get this bipartisan bill passed in the Senate. This is awonderfulway to honor Bob's memory and service to Thermopolis and our nation. While I was never fortunate enough to meet Robert Brown, I know he was a man who dedicated his life to his country. He didn't just serve in the Army; he served with courage and distinction in combat in both World War II and later in the Korean War. He was awarded the Bronze Star and later returned to his community where he continued to serve his fellow citizens for years as a postmaster in the U.S. Postal Service. I know that our country is better for his lifetime of service to others, said Carper. I want to thank my colleague, Senator Enzi, for graciously allowing me to be his wingman in this effort to rename the Thermopolis post office in Mr. Brown's honor. I know that his memory will live on for generations in the community he served so well. Th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-selection-of-brian-deese-to-lead-the-national-economic-council | Carper Statement on Selection of Brian Deese to Lead the National Economic Council | 2020-12-03 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's selection of Brian Deese to serve as Director of the National Economic Council. Two of the biggest crises facing our country right now is an economy that has left too many Americans behind for too long, especially during this pandemic, and the existential threat of climate change thatleaves our survival on this planet hanging in the balance.In Brian Deese, President-elect Biden has selected an individual who fundamentally believes and understands thatthese two crises areinextricablyconnectedthat building afairer, more prosperous economyis impossible withoutachieving environmental equity and ensuring a healthy, habitable planet.As the first climate policy expert to serve as Director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese will put combatting the climate crisis at the center of the incoming Administration's economic agenda and work tirelessly to bring much-needed reliefand opportunityto American families and workers. Brian's track record speaks for itself. During the Obama Administration, he was integral in crafting the bailout of the American auto industry at the height of the Great Recession. He's been tested during crises, has successfully worked to protect American jobs, and helped to rebuild our economy once before. He went on to be a lead negotiator of the Paris Climate Agreement, helping to bring the world together in support of ambitious action on climate. Most recently, he has worked with the nation's largest companies to help reduce their impact on the environment we all share. That experience will prove to be an asset as President-elect Biden works to advance the boldest climate agenda from anyadministration to date that holds all stakeholders accountable. Having worked with Brian when he served as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, I know t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/to-honor-epa-s-50th-anniversary-let-s-look-to-the-future | To honor EPAs 50th Anniversary, lets look to the future | 2020-12-03 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Dear Friend, This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency. Many people may not remember a time before the EPA, before the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act became law of the land. But I do. Polluters dumped waste into our waterways without consequence, factories released toxic fumes, and acid rain fell from the sky. Smog in major cities around our country was so thick you could almost cut it with a knife. In the face of all of that adversity, the American people got to work and created a movement. Millions took to the streets calling for transformative action to protect our planet. In response, a Republican presidentPresident Richard Nixonhelped lead the effort to create a new federal agency with the mission of protecting human health and the environment. In the time since, the EPA has been instrumental in protecting the air we breathe, cleaning up the water that we drink, and improving public health. Despite those 50 years of progress, sadly, the last four years have reminded us that progress is not permanent. Fortunately, though, neither is the damage that has been done to our nation's leading environmental agency. With forward-looking leadership, EPA can and will be restored to help our nation overcome the most pressing challenges of our day. That is what my friend and fellow Delawarean, President-elect Joe Biden, has promised. Right now, EPA can help us reduce the air pollution that is worsening COVID-19 outcomes. Right now, EPA can help to address the environmental inequality that stems from systemic racism. EPA can help our nation reduce harmful pollution and prioritize environmental justice in ways that ensure we uplift economically disadvantaged communities, foster greater economic prosperity and achieve equity. In fact, environmental quality and economic growth go hand in hand. On top of a deadly pandemic, an ever-deepening economic recession and a national reckoning of racial injustice, the United States is grappling with another crisisthe climate crisis. We may not be e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-group-aims-to-launch-new-generation-of-main-street-entrepreneurs | Bipartisan group aims to launch new generation of Main Street entrepreneurs | 2020-12-03 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. SenatorsChris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.)and Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) introduced theNext Generation Entrepreneur Corps Actto spur new business and job creation in underserved communities by startinga competitive fellowship for entrepreneurs. With a five-year investment of $368 million, the bill will identify talented entrepreneurs through a national competition and directly support the creation of more than320new businesses each year. During this crisis, small businesses are struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels, with hundreds of thousands of businesses permanently closed. Even before the public health crisis, entrepreneurs faced substantial barriers to entry. The majority of would-be entrepreneurs have limited access to capital; and this problem is worse for minoritieswho are twice as likely to be denied loans, more likely to receive lower loan amounts when they do receive loans, and pay higher interest rates than their whitepeers. These barriers to entry are also stark in low-income areas, where there are proportionally fewer self-employed workers and small businesses. Creating opportunities for business growth in a post-COVID-19 economy will be necessary to regain the 10 million jobs still missing due to the pandemic,Senator Coons said.New businesses account for nearlya thirdof total job creationeach year. We must ensure that entrepreneurs canact on their innovative ideas in the places that needthemthe most. We need a range of bold new approaches to rebuild Main Street America in distressed communities, and the Next Generation Entrepreneur Corps should be part of this effort. As a former business owner and entrepreneur, I understand the challenges that come with starting a business,said Senator Tim Scott.Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and it's important that we continue to spur economic development. I created my Opportunity Agenda to help create hope in underserved communities, and the Next Generation Ent… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-meets-with-president-elect-biden-s-nominee-to-lead-dhs | Carper Meets with President-Elect Bidens Nominee to Lead DHS | 2020-12-02 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Carper, Mayorkas discuss ways to boost morale at DHS, restore public trust in the Department and tackle the root causes of migration WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released the following statement today after virtually meeting with Alejandro Mayorkas, President-elect Joe Biden's intended nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security. I have been fortunate enough to work alongside Ali Mayorkas for many years, and I have gotten to know him both as a public servant and a person. He is a man of great integrity and principle, with an incomparable work ethic, who understands the complexities of this critical agency and the threats facing our country at this crucial moment. I am even more sure, after meeting with him today, that he is the right person to take the helm at DHS and begin a new, productive chapter at the agency. I was glad to talk with him today about the importanceofworking expeditiously to fill vacancies at DHS with qualified, experienced individuals who can support him in his efforts to boost morale across the workforce and restore the public's trust in this Department. It's understandable that the American people may be leery of this agency,which was deeply politicized during the Trump administration and used as an instrument to carry out some of its most extreme and harmful policies during the last four years. But Ali Mayorkas appreciates the work that lies aheadofhim and his team in order to earn back the public's trust. He is eager to show that he will be a thoughtful leader, and I know that he is well-qualified and well-prepared to hit the ground running on day one. We also had an opportunity to discuss the urgent need to address the root causes of irregular migration to our country not simply the symptoms. As someone who has traveled to Central America numerous times, it is clear that violence, extreme poverty, corruption and a lack of opportunity has for… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-statement-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-environmental-protection-agency | Carper Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency | 2020-12-02 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For 50 years, the American people have relied on the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the air we breathe is clean, the water we drink is safe, the communities we call home are free of pollution, and the products we use are free of toxins. Many people may not remember a time before the EPA, before the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act became law of the land. But I do. I remember when industries polluted our skies with plumes of acrid smoke and poisoned our waterways with toxic waste. Communities were cloaked in suffocating smog. Many of us have the luxury of largely forgetting these frightening circumstances today because of the work of EPA. For half a century, EPA has relied on sound science to implement our nation's clean air, clean water and safe chemical laws. During that time, our economy has expanded, industries have innovated and business have created millions of new jobs, proving that economic growth goes hand in hand with environmental quality. But we have just seen the proof that this progress is not permanent. Over the last four years, EPA has endured a hostile administration hell-bent on turning back the clock. But even after a president who promised to get rid' of the agency in every form, EPA is still the world's gold standard of science-based and compassionate care for our environment because regulations can come undone and career employees can come under attack, but science evolves and our bedrock environmental laws endure. Just as progress is not permanent, neither is the damage that's been done to our nation's top environmental agency. The leadership and forward-looking vision of President-elect Biden and his administration will restore and renew EPA. Fifty years after its birth, EPA will once again help our nation overcome the most pressing chall… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/opening-statement-of-ranking-member-carper-business-meeting-to-consider-substitute-amendment-to-american-nuclear-infrastructure-act-of-2020 | Opening Statement of Ranking Member Carper: Business Meeting to consider Substitute Amendment to American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020 | 2020-12-02 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a business meeting to consider substitute amendment to S. 4897, American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020, and 8 General Services Administration Resolutions. Below is the opening statement of Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-Del.), as prepared for delivery: Welcome, everyone, to the last Senate Environment and Public Works Committee business meeting of the 116th Congress. Today marks the end of an era. It is the last EPW business meeting to be led by our friend and colleague, Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming. Mr. Chairman, I'm proud of all we've accomplished in this committee these past four years by working together. I'll mention a few. We enacted a comprehensive reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act, and we are on the cusp of doing so again, two years later. Last year, we unanimously reporting out of committee the most significant highway funding bill the Senate has ever seen, one with a substantial climate title included in it. In addition, we've enacted a slew of wildlife bills that improve conservation efforts, protect habitat and the creatures that God has put on this Earth. And, we reached a consequential bipartisan compromise to enact a nationwide phasedown of HFCs. That's worth a half degrees Celsius alone in our battle against the climate crisis. I would be remiss not to mention one of my favorite moments that we've shared togetherwhen a nominee from Wyoming sat before us and testified at his confirmation hearing for Assistant Secretary for Interior. Your friend, Rob Wallace, said these words: Along the way I've learned so much, especially that no one ever really wins by winning everything, that bipartisan solutions are always the lasting ones...' Mr. Chairman, as my staff knows, these words of wisdom really struck a chord with me and a number of our colleagues, as well. Because that's something all of us have learned along the way, toothat bipartisan solutions truly are lasting solutions. When I reflect on… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-als-caucus-applauds-passage-of-legislation-to-eliminate-ssdi-5-month-wait-period-for-als-patients | Senate ALS Caucus applauds passage of legislation to eliminate SSDI 5-month wait period for ALS patients | 2020-12-02 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus, today applauded Senate passage of the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019, introduced by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)both founding members of the Senate ALS Caucus. This landmark legislation represents a long overdue win for the ALS community. The bill removes barriers for ALS patients seeking access to the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits they earned. Specifically, the bill eliminates a mandatory five-month waiting period for patients with medically-determined ALS. While the statutory purpose of the waiting period is to allow temporary conditions to reverse, there is currently no cure or treatment to halt or undo the effects of ALS, and many ALS patients lose their fight with the disease before ever receiving benefits. The bill will help alleviate some of the financial hardship that accompanies an ALS diagnosis. Passing the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act has been a priority for the Senate ALS Caucus since its founding in January 2020. Today, we celebrate a bipartisan win for the ALS community. The Senate voted in favor of timely financial support for those facing a recent ALS diagnosis,said Senator Coons. Speedy access to support programs like SSDI after a diagnosis is essential and one of the priorities we set when we launched our bipartisan caucus earlier this year. We must continue to build on this progress to make life easier for ALS patients and their loved ones. Today's win is about the patients and their families,said Senator Mike Braun, The financial burden of ALS is staggering and time is of the essence for those diagnosed with ALS. The ALS Disability Insurance Access Act is a step in the right direction toward providing timely access to SSDI benefits to ALS patients. Allowing Americans who face this difficult diagnosis to immediately receive the benefits they have earned is a simple act of humanity that will make life easier fo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-on-groundbreaking-at-seaford-river-walk | Senator Coons on groundbreaking at Seaford River Walk | 2020-12-02 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the groundbreaking for the first phase of the revitalization of the old J.B. Robinson Oyster House site along the river walk in Seaford. "Seaford is a truly unique gateway to the Nanticoke River and an ideal location for fishing and recreation," said Sen. Coons. "I'm thrilled that Seaford residents will soon have better public access to the beautiful river, which honors a rich cultural history as an important part of our state. As someone who spent a lot of time in local government doing land-use planning, I know how challenging this process can be, and I'm grateful to Mayor Genshaw and all the community partners who've made this project a reality." For more information, visit Chesapeake Conservancy at chesapeakeconservancy.org/news/ or email Jody Couser at jcouser@chesapeakeconservancy.org. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-young-reps-norcross-mckinley-bill-to-expand-registered-apprenticeships-in-high-growth-job-sectors-passes-house | Sens. Coons, Young, Reps. Norcross, McKinley bill to expand registered apprenticeships in high-growth job sectors passes House | 2020-12-02 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) and U.S. Representatives Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and David McKinley P.E. (R-W.Va.) celebrated the House passage of theNational Apprenticeship Act of 2020. The bill, which includes their bipartisan and bicameralApprenticeship Hubs Across America Act, will invest more than $3.5 billion to create nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years. I am proud that the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 includes our Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act, a bill to expand organizations like Delaware Pathways that help employers design, develop, and deliver Registered Apprenticeship Programs,said Senator Coons.As the economic disruption of COVID-19 has left millions of Americans without work, it is more important than ever for the government to invest in quality job training programs, like RegisteredApprenticeships, and create more opportunities for America's displaced workers and youth. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to consider the National Apprenticeship Act immediately. As a member of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, I have witnessed the benefits ofapprenticeshipsand the opportunities they provide. Now that a global pandemic has left countless Americans without work, it is more important than ever that we invest in career-supporting apprenticeship programs. I'm pleased that ourApprenticeship Hubs Across America Actis one step closer to becoming law,said Senator Young. A Registered Apprenticeship shaped my life laying the foundation for me to go from the construction site to Congress,said Congressman Norcross.I am pleased that the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 includes our Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act, which will provide students and workers across the country access to apprenticeship opportunities by expanding and strengthening the proven models developed by the Registered Apprenticeship Program. Expanding access to RegisteredApprenticeships our country's most successful workforce… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-automakers-should-all-support-voluntary-framework-deal-with-california-ford-honda-volkswagen-bmw-and-volvo | Carper: Automakers should all support voluntary framework deal with California, Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, BMW, and Volvo | 2020-12-01 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, echoed a new letter sent by Ford Motor Company and encouragedallautomakers to follow the lead of Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, BMW, and Volvo anddrop litigation against states' regulatory authority and announce their support for thevoluntary agreement with California and 13 other states, including Delaware, that will deliver more greenhouse gas emissionsreductions than under the Trump administration's illegal rollback. For four years, nearly every automaker told me that they wanted to see a deal between the Trump administration and the state of California. Automakers urged the administration to govern responsibly and support a 50-state solution that would provide near-term flexibility as the industry moves toward stronger standards. But in those four years, only five automakers have shown the leadership needed to make that a reality. With so much at stake American jobs and the entire auto industry, our nation's economy and the planet's climate crisis five automakers had the courage to buck the Trump administration and choose another way. Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, BMW, and Volvo worked with California to forge a responsible alternative path, one that would promote American jobs, protect clean air, and support the clean cars of the future. In a new letter, Ford is calling the rest of the automakers to join that agreement. I echo that call. Actually, since the four automakers' agreement with California was first announced, I have repeatedly called other automakers and urged them to join it. For more than a year now, I have picked up the phone and told every automaker that staying stuck in neutral or reverse is no longer an option. Remaining silent or merely withdrawing support from the outgoing administration's illegal rollback and challenges to state authority is not enough, not when there is so much at stake. To demonstrate real leadership, automakers should also announce their support for th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-defazio-and-grijalva-file-amicus-brief-over-nepa-rule-changes-by-the-trump-administration | Carper, DeFazio, and Grijalva File Amicus Brief over NEPA Rule Changes by the Trump Administration | 2020-12-01 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Congressman Ral M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, in the case of Wild Virginia v. Council on Environmental Quality. The three lawmakers filed the amicus brief on behalf of Members of Congress regarding the Trump administration's revisions to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. The amicus brief states Member of Congress have on multiple occasions communicated to the administration that the legal defects of the Trump NEPA regulations fundamentally undermines NEPA's protections and should not adversely affect their constituents. Congress intended that the NEPA review process would protect the public by requiring agencies to carefully examine the environmental impacts of their actions, the lawmakers wrote. The 2020 Rule, however, removes or weakens core elements of the NEPA review process, thereby undermining NEPA's protections that have made the law so valuable to [our] constituents. The brief asserts that four core elements of NEPA review have been undercut by the updated NEPA rule: consideration of cumulative and indirect impacts, analysis of all reasonable alternatives, public participation, and the requirement to consider environmental impacts before project commencement. Read the lawmakers' amicus brief here. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-coons-cornyn-introduce-landmark-legislation-to-invest-1b-annually-in-civics-education | Sens. Coons, Cornyn introduce landmark legislation to invest $1B annually in civics education | 2020-12-01 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced landmark legislation to invest $1 billion annually in civics and history education from K-12 through higher education. The Educating for Democracy Act would create a variety of grants to states, non-profits, institutions of higher education, and civics education researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education in schools across the country. It would also strengthen policymakers' understanding of young Americans' achievement in civics education by increasing the frequency of and encouraging participation in the National Assessment of Education Progress exam. Companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) in the House. Civic engagement is crucial for the health of our democracy,said Senator Coons.With expanded civics education in K-12 and higher education, this bill will equip new generations of Americans with deeper understanding of their responsibilities as citizens and how to exercise their cherished rights. I am proud to work with Senator Cornyn on this bipartisan effort to expand access to civics education and invest in the future our democracy. The United States continues to be a model for the world because we are taught from a young age the merits of democracy, our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the civic duties that are inherently part of being an American,said Senator Cornyn.This bill would help our schools inspire the next generation of public servants and teach all young Texans the value of freedom, and I'm glad to work with Sen. Coons on this bipartisan legislation. Civic education is the cornerstone we need to rebuild the civic strength of our country,Louise Dub, the Executive Director of iCivics, which leads CivXNow, said.We thank Senator Coons and Senator Cornyn for their leadership in introducing this bill, which makes a critical investment in civic education. TheCivXNow coalition is excitedto support their efforts. The E… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-statement-on-the-nomination-of-janet-yellen-to-serve-as-treasury-secretary | Carper Statement on the Nomination of Janet Yellen to Serve as Treasury Secretary | 2020-11-30 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Janet Yellen to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. This year, millions of families have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, breadwinners have been out of work. Too many small business owners have been forced to close their doors. Parents have struggled to pay for necessities at the super market, while our President focuses solely on the stock market. We desperately need leaders who can help workers and families recover, build an economy that works for all Americans and put us on a more equitable and sustainable fiscal path going forward. President-elect Biden knows exactly what it takes to lead our country out of an economic crisis and, in Janet Yellen, he has found a partner who has the brilliance, the decades of experience and the gravitas needed to lead a successful recovery now. The selection of Janet Yellen to lead the Treasury Department is historic, but also pitch perfect for this moment. A trailblazer throughout her life, Janet Yellen was the first woman to lead our central banking system as Chair of the Federal Reserve, where she was widely regarded as a steady hand who helped to continue our economic recovery in the wake of the Great Recession. Now, she would be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in its long 231-year history, and the only person to have served as Treasury Secretary, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Chair of the Federal Reserve. A decorated economist and renowned academic, it would be nearly impossible to find any individual more qualified for this position. And it would be even more difficult to find a nominee who is so well respected across the board, from progressives to Republicans alike. In addition to her impeccable credentials, Janet Yellen has long been sounding the alarm on climate change. An early supporter of the Kyoto Protocol and a member of the Cl… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-on-dr-tony-allens-selection-to-lead-biden-harris-inaugural-committee | Sen. Coons on Dr. Tony Allens selection to lead Biden-Harris inaugural committee | 2020-11-30 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement on the selection of Dr. Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University, to serve in a personal capacity as chief executive officer of a Presidential Inaugural Committee, which will organize activities surrounding the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. "I have known Tony for 25 years, and he is a terrific choice to help bring Delaware to D.C. and to bring the excitement of the Biden-Harris ticket to the American people through the inauguration," said Sen. Coons. "This will be a difficult inauguration to pull off as we confront the realities of the pandemic. Fortunately, as Tony's strong leadership at DSU has already shown, he can both innovate in tough times and deliver real results. He's a great choice to lead this important committee." ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-on-the-passing-of-delaware-national-guard-corporal-erin-sasse | Senator Coons on the passing of Delaware National Guard Corporal Erin Sasse | 2020-11-27 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate National Guard Caucus, released the following statement on the death of Cpl. Erin Sasse of the Delaware Army National Guard. Cpl. Sasse was killed while trying to assist a disabled motorist following a crash on Interstate 95. "Cpl. Erin Sasse epitomized the best of Army values. She served with the 153rd Military Police Company, a highly respected unit of our Delaware National Guard,"said Sen. Coons."Erin's instinct to risk her own safety in slowing down to assist a disabled motorist on a dangerous interstate is a testament to her courage and her character. Her family, friends, and fellow soldiers knew her as a remarkable and incredibly caring person, and her tragic loss will be felt by many for years to come. Annie and I send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Erin's husband Randy and their three children." For more information, visit the Delaware National Guard's Facebook page atbit.ly/3mj9S78. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-on-epa-s-proposal-to-weaken-pollution-standards-for-vessels | Carper on EPAs Proposal to Weaken Pollution Standards for Vessels | 2020-11-25 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, underscored the damage posed by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s proposed rule that would significantly relax pollution control standards for large industrial ships under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act. When large ships arrive at ports, they often need to discharge ballast water in order to load new cargo. That ballast water frequently contains harmful pollutants and aquatic invasive species. That's why I worked hard to see theVessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) become law to ensure commercial shipping vessels adhere to basic pollution control standards in order to better mitigate the spread of invasive species and protect our nation's waterways. One of the key principles of VIDA was ensuring that the new pollution control standards set forth by EPA would be at least as stringent as existing standards. In fact, the law explicitly and unambiguously forbids EPA from weakening any existing ballast water standard. But, after four years, it should surprise no one that the Trump EPA is simply ignoring the law. In clear defiance to the rule of the law and a 94-6 bipartisan vote in the Senate, EPA is instead proposing to weaken existing ballast water standards. No doubt, President Trump's EPA will be remembered for its unrelenting torrent of environmental rollbacks that cater to specific industries with special interests. This proposed rule is no exception. In addition to weakening pollution control standards, EPA has determined that U.S. vessels operating exclusively in the Great Lakes system are not required to meet any discharge standard whatsoever. According to EPA, these vessels do not have to install ballast water management systems. I worked closely with my Senate colleagues from the Great Lakes States and, once again, EPA's interpretation of the law could not be further from our clear, unambiguous, legislative intent. It should also surprise no one that the Trump EPA arriv… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/have-a-happy-and-safe-thanksgiving | Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving | 2020-11-25 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | November 25th, 2020 Dear Friend, It goes without saying that 2020 has been a hard year for every American. We have all sacrificed a great deal as our country has grappled with the coronavirus pandemic. And the fact that Thanksgiving also looks very different for all of us this year is understandably difficult. Most years on Thanksgiving, I like to start my morning running the Thanksgiving Day Multiple Sclerosis race in Wilmington. Then, I head down to the Emmanuel Dining Room to make sure my neighbors are able to partake in not only a delicious Thanksgiving meal, but also invaluable fellowship. Even though this Thanksgiving looks differentand in spite of the hardships of this year, there's still so much to be thankful for. More than ever, we should all be especially grateful for our good health and the health of our family and friends. We should give thanks for the food on our tables.Weshould express our sincere thanks for the health care heroes and frontline workers who have put themselves in harm's way this year to keep our country running and keep their fellow Americans healthy and safe. And we should give thanksfor the men and women abroad defending our country. Let usnot forget: there are too many families who will not even get to Zoom with a family member or loved one over Thanksgiving dinner because they've been lost to the coronavirus.I know thatmissing gatherings forThanksgiving may seem tough,especially when being with family and loved ones feels more important than ever.But we are still in the middle of a pandemic, and we need to do everything we can to keep each other safe. That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially recommended that Americans stay at home this weekend and celebrate Thanksgiving with only your household. Over the last few weeks, we've gotten some much-needed good news. Help is on the way in the form of three promising, highly effective vaccines. But it's not time to spike the football just yet. Instead, that good news should be extra incentive t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-joins-booker-colleagues-urge-robust-funding-for-state-and-local-governments-to-distribute-covid-19-vaccines | Carper Joins Booker, Colleagues to Urge Robust Funding for State and Local Governments to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines | 2020-11-24 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | Public health experts have estimated that a bare minimum of $8.4 billion is needed for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and 15 of his Democratic Senate colleagues in urging Congressional leaders to provide robust funding to ensure the swift distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as a part of any upcoming legislation to address the pandemic. With the recent news of at least one COVID-19 vaccine possibly being available to be distributed within the next month, many state and local governments lack the proper funding that is needed to distribute the vaccine. According to a recent letter sent by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) to congressional leaders, a minimum of $8.4 billion is needed to distribute COVID-19 vaccines nationwide. Some experts even estimated that $10 billion is required in order to fund community vaccination clinics alone. For months, as states, territories, Indian Tribes, and other localities have been responding to COVID-19 and working tirelessly to keep their residents safe, they have also been preparing to undertake one of the largest vaccination efforts in our nation's history, the lawmakers wrote in a letter sent today to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy. To accomplish this, jurisdictions must recruit and train thousands of health care workers, modernize data systems and registries, stand up vaccination sites, develop communications and educational materials, and build and support the infrastructure needed to distribute multiple types and doses of COVID-19 vaccines, among other activities. To ensure that jurisdictions throughout the country are well-positioned to immediately, efficiently, and equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines as they become available, we respectfully request that any upcoming legislation to address … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/coons-honored-with-friend-of-farm-bureau-award-for-support-of-delaware-agriculture | Coons honored with Friend of Farm Bureau Award for support of Delaware agriculture | 2020-11-24 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) receives the national Friend of Farm Bureau Award from President Richard Wilkins of the Delaware Farm Bureau during a ceremony in Camden, Del., Nov. 23, 2020. For additional photos, visit https://bit.ly/3nRkv14. (U.S. Senate Photo by Brendan Mackie/Released).CAMDEN, Del. Today, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the Senate Chicken Caucus and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, received the American Farm Bureau Federation's Friend of Farm Bureau Award during a ceremony at the Delaware Farm Bureau here. President Richard Wilkins of the DEFB presented Coons with the national-level award, which honors members of Congress who work to advance policies supporting agriculture and farmers. Delaware agriculture plays a critical role in our state's economy and helps to keep food on the tables of American families across the country, Senator Coons said. Finding ways to support our hardworking farmers is one of my top priorities. I'm honored to receive this award and will continue using my position in the Senate to advocate for agriculture and Delaware farmers, especially during this difficult time. As Senate Chicken Caucus co-chair, Coons has led the bipartisan effort to secure federal assistance for contract poultry growers hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Coons also uses his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for vital agriculture, rural development, and environmental priorities, including support for the poultry industry, agricultural research, farm conservation, and rural housing programs in the appropriations bills for the fiscal year 2021. For more photos of the ceremony, visit https://bit.ly/3nRkv14.(U.S. Senate Photo by Brendan Mackie/Released). | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-sen-coons-big-difference-between-the-stock-market-and-whats-happening-in-grocery-markets | [VIDEO] Sen. Coons: Big difference between the stock market and what's happening in grocery markets | 2020-11-24 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del.Today, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committees, joined MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell to discuss the need for urgent COVID-19 relief and stimulus. I think it's important that Majority Leader McConnell show that he recognizes that we need to fund our recovery, that we need to provide an additional round of funding, yes to small businesses, but also to state and local governments, to families and individuals who are struggling, even on a day that the Dow Jones hits a new all-time record,said Senator Coons.There is a big difference between the stock market and what's happening in grocery markets in local communities all over our country. We've got families that are hurting and struggling. We have more than 6 million Americans who are on the verge of being evicted either because they're late on their mortgages or on their rent, and we need to take decisive steps to put a floor under our economy. Senator Coons concluded,The very wealthiest Americans and those who hold stocks and bonds in their retirement accounts should be pleased about the all-time high for the Dow Jones, but that shows that there is confidence in the markets because they believe a transition is now finally under way, and we should be able to work across the aisle during this lame duck period to deliver some of the additional support that small businesses, employers, and employees and their families need and deserve going into this holiday season. Full audio and video are availablehere. A transcript is provided below. Q: And Delaware Democratic Senator and Foreign Relations Committee member, Chris Coons, joining me now. Senator, thanks very much, thanks for being with us. And an almost happy holiday to you. It's certainly a happier day for the Biden team there in Wilmington who can now start working on background checks, and as these nominees come forward, begin to think about getting ready for confirmations. Sen. Coons:That's right. This long overdue transit… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-peters-colleagues-request-regular-gao-briefings-on-schedule-f-executive-order-implementation | Carper, Peters, Colleagues Request Regular GAO Briefings on Schedule F Executive Order Implementation | 2020-11-23 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Oversight and Reform Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Gerald E. Connolly in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting regular briefings to inform Congress about the implementation status of President Trump's Schedule F Executive Order. The executive order could precipitate a mass exodus from the federal government at the end of every presidential administration, leaving federal agencies without deep institutional knowledge, expertise, experience, and the ability to develop and implement long-term policy strategies, they wrote. It would be a critical loss for the American people. On October 21, 2020, the President issued an executive order that would undermine the foundation of the federal workforce: the civil service, which consists of non-partisan professionals who serve all Americans without regard to political party. This executive action could multiply the number of political appointees within the federal workforce by tens of thousands and permit the mass firing of current federal employees whom agency heads determine make substantive contributions to executive branch policy. In response to the executive order, on October 27, 2020, Chairwoman Maloney and Chairman Connollyintroduced the Saving the Civil Service Act to prohibit the use of funds to implement the order. The bill also would allow any position or appointment that was converted pursuant to the executive order to be converted back to the competitive service and provide anyone converted to a Schedule F who was subsequently fired to be reinstated with backpay. Senator Carper joined Ranking Member Peters and more than 40 U.S. Senators last week to introduce a bill that would also block the implementation of the President's harmful executive order. Click here to read today's l… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-statement-on-john-kerry-appointment-to-serve-as-special-presidential-envoy-for-climate | Carper Statement on John Kerry Appointment to Serve as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate | 2020-11-23 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after President-elect Biden appointed former Secretary of State John Kerry to serve as a Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and to serve as part of the National Security Council (NSC). It is going to take a concerted international effort to confront and overcome the global climate crisis. But before we even get there, it's going to take perseverance, political expertise and diplomacy to convince other countries to join the fight to save our planet. No one understands what it's going to take better than John Kerry. As our nation's former Secretary of State, John Kerry knows firsthand how to unite the international community to confront the climate crisis. After all, he worked tirelessly to bring the Paris Agreement to the finish line. And when it was time to ratify the historic accord, Secretary Kerry brought his young granddaughter with him to sign the agreement on behalf of the United States. He reminded the world that climate action is about leaving behind a healthy, habitable planet for future generations. As my former colleague in the Senate, he is also acutely aware of the political process. He will bring to this role both his diplomatic and political expertise. And, after devoting the last several years to his organization focused on climate change, John Kerry knows better than anyone how to ensure this crisis receives the international attention it so desperately needs. One call after another, world leaders continue to raise the issue of climate change in their congratulatory calls to the president-elect. President-elect Biden understands that the world is watching, and he knows that time is wasting. With the first-ever National Security Council seat dedicated to climate change, Secretary Kerry's historic appointment is a message to be heard around the world. The United States of America will lead the world on climate change once again. ##… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-statement-on-the-nomination-of-alejandro-mayorkas-to-serve-as-dhs-secretary | Carper Statement on the Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to Serve as DHS Secretary | 2020-11-23 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Alejandro Ali Mayorkas to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS is an agency with a budget of over $50 billion. The 240,000 men and women who work at the agency are charged with such critical missions as protecting our country from ever-evolving domestic and foreign threats, responding to national disasters, and securing our elections against foreign interference. As we see record-breaking storms, floods and fires fueled by climate change, continued irregular migration to our southern border, and the highest number of hate crimes in a decade, it is more important than ever that we have qualified and steady leadership at the Department to help us tackle these challenges and create a safer and more secure country for every American. I have had the pleasure and the privilege of working with Ali Mayorkas during his many years of service at the Department of Homeland Security. He is a man of great integrity and principle, with an incomparable work ethic, who understands the complexities of this critical agency and the threats facing our country. I can think of no better choice to help rebuild, refocus and lead the Department in this moment than Ali Mayorkas. Joe Biden's selection of Ali is undoubtedly historic. Ali was born in Havana, Cuba and understands firsthand what it's like for a family to come to the United States in search of refuge. He will become the first immigrant and first Latino to lead this consequential agency. But nominating Ali also shows just how much our President-elect values experience and expertise. Ali Mayorkas has held numerous positions within the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Most recently, Ali served as DHS Deputy Secretary during which time he helped implement the program … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-statement-on-the-nomination-of-tony-blinken-to-serve-as-secretary-of-state | Carper Statement on the Nomination of Tony Blinken to Serve as Secretary of State | 2020-11-23 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Tony Blinken to serve as Secretary of State. For the last four years, we have recklessly abandoned our alliances and walked away from carefully crafted international agreements with no alternatives in place. From the Paris Climate Accords to the Iran nuclear deal, President Trump, and those around him, seemed to be solely driven by a desire to tear down good policies, simply because they were achievements of the Obama Administration. For the last four years, our country's foreign policy has been transactional rather than strategic. For the last four years, our country has turned our back on our allies and cozied up to autocrats, ceding our leadership role in the world and compromising the democratic values that the United States has helped to spread across the globe by the power of our example. I've long said that there is no one better equipped to finally restore our country's standing in the world than Joe Biden. One of the reasons that I am so confident in President-elect Joe Biden's ability to do so is because I know that he will empower and surround himself with experienced, thoughtful and eminently qualified individuals like Tony Blinken. Having begun his career at the State Department, Tony Blinken not only respects the agency and the critical role it plays in representing the United States to the world. He also respects our diplomats and foreign service officers around the world who work every day to keep our country safe. He has decades of experience in foreign policy and has been tested on the world stage. He helped to build the coalition of over sixty nations and the Kurds to fight ISIS on the battlefield, successfully reducing the terrorist group's land holdings and influence. Alongside others, he advocated for the Iran Nuclear Deal that successfully kept the Iranian government from developing a nuclear weapon, and which subjected the country to rigorous, in… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/11/carper-urges-gsa-to-ascertain-president-elect-biden-to-ensure-americans-environmental-and-health-protections | Carper Urges GSA to Ascertain President-Elect Biden to Ensure Americans Environmental and Health Protections | 2020-11-23 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | Senate | DE | Thomas Carper | C000174 | www.carper.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, urged General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Murphy to ascertain the results of the 2020 Presidential Election for the sake of Americans' environment and health. In a new letter to GSA Administrator Murphy, Senator Carper underscored the urgency and importance of a smooth transition to President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris's administration, given the global crises of climate change and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. GSA must immediately ascertain the President-elect's clear election victory and assist in facilitating a timely and effective transition of power to the incoming administration, as required by the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, Senator Carper wrote. Failing to do so risks the health and safety of millions of Americans as the nation grapples with a pandemic that continues to grow more severe every week. Senator Carper outlined three specific areas currently hindered by GSA's refusal to ascertain President-Elect Biden: air pollution and the coronavirus, evaluation and approval of disinfectants amid the pandemic, and preparation for the next administration to assess and remediate contaminated Superfund sites. I urge you to fulfill your lawful duty and begin the process of facilitating an orderly transfer of power to the new administration, so that President-elect Biden and Vice-President elect Harris can protect human health and the environment effectively on day one, Senator Carper continued. The full letter can be read here or below. November 23, 2020 Emily Murphy Administrator General Services Administration 1800 F St NW Washington, D.C. 20006 Dear Administrator Murphy: I am deeply concerned that the General Services Administration (GSA) continues to delay providing resources and access to critical information to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and their team as they prepare to take office… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-statement-on-president-elect-biden-selections-for-key-cabinet-positions | Sen. Coons statement on President-elect Biden selections for key Cabinet positions | 2020-11-23 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President-elect Biden announced nominees for key Cabinet positions: Tony Blinken for Secretary of State, Jake Sullivan for National Security Advisor, Linda Thomas-Greenfield for Ambassador to the United Nations, Avril Haines for Director of National Intelligence, Alejandro Mayorkas for Homeland Security Secretary, and John Kerry for Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. President-elect Joe Biden is bringing professional competence and deep experience to his Cabinet and the highest levels of our government. Beyond their decades of work in national security and foreign relations, these nominees are genuinely good people and team players who will work tirelessly to advance U.S. interests and values. I look forward to confirming these nominees quickly, and working with President-elect Biden and his Cabinet to build back better our leadership on the world stage and tackle our most pressing global challenges. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-coons-statement-on-president-elect-bidens-nomination-of-tony-blinken-as-secretary-of-state | Sen. Coons statement on President-elect Bidens nomination of Tony Blinken as Secretary of State | 2020-11-23 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | DE | Christopher Coons | C001088 | www.coons.senate.gov | legacy | WILMINGTON, Del. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President-elect Joe Biden announced Tony Blinken as his nominee to serve as Secretary of State. Tony Blinken will be an outstanding Secretary of State. I have known and worked with Tony for over a decade and no one better understands and conveys President-elect Biden's vision for building back better our nation's role in the world than Tony. World leaders will know that when Tony speaks, he is speaking for the President. He is a capable, measured, thoughtful and inspiring leader, and our diplomats around the world will be encouraged to have his leadership at the State Department. We have a lot of important and difficult work to do together in the years ahead advancing our values, restoring our alliances and tackling the challenges of this century from China and climate change, to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and future global health crises and I look forward to working closely with Secretary Blinken and President Biden to deliver strong results. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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