url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=7289aad4-945f-40a7-b232-4e54488a252f,Finally: A national park to call our own,2014-12-19,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends, 
Last week it proved true that hard work, commitment, and patience pay off! I was thrilled when legislation to create the First State National Historical Park finally passed through Congress on December 12. It creates Delaware’s first national park, joining it to the network of states which boasts a total of 58 national parks that attract millions of visitors each year. 
As a celebration of Delaware’s rich cultural history, sites from early American Dutch, Swedish, and English settlements will be included in the First State National Historical Park. Others, such as the Dover Green, will highlight our state’s vital role in the founding of our nation. The park will incorporate existing landmarks from the First State National Monument and add new sites in each of Delaware’s three counties. To see more details about the sites that will make up the First State National Historical Park, visit carper.senate.gov/nationalpark. 
I’ve been asked again and again as we’ve pushed for this park in Congress, “What makes having a national park in Delaware so important?"" The answer is that having a designated national park ensures Delaware's complete unique story about its contributions to our nation's history will be preserved for generations to come. This national park gives our entire state a number of powerful tools to help spread the word about our story and reach out to people across the country and around the world who might be interested in visiting Delaware and learning more about our state's integral role in our nation's history.
National parks are an important part of America. They are the destinations of family summer vacations, family reunions, or school field trips, drawing crowds from across America to see our country’s natural beauty and learn about its history. National parks are also the top attraction for foreign tourists coming to this country on vacation. All these visit result in real economic gains for local economies. In 2013, park visitors spent an estimated $14.6 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands. Even the smallest national park resulted in more than $1 million in tourist revenue. As Delawareans, we stand to benefit from the added tourism from the park, but we also have the unique opportunity to influence the experience and memories of those visiting our state. 
So if you’re proud of our state like I am, bring your family and friends to enjoy our new national park soon! 
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3864b091-3f0e-450f-b5c1-d55f29b3bc2a,President Signs Critical Cyber Security Bills into Law,2014-12-19,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – President Obama signed into law Thursday four bipartisan bills that will modernize, strengthen, and improve our nation’s cyber security defenses. The measures are the first major cyber security bills to become law in several years.
The bills – now law – reflect the work of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.); House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss), and Subcommittee Chair Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY); and House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).
Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.), Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: “The President took a historic step in bolstering our national security by signing four cyber security bills into law. These measures make significant strides to modernize our nation’s cybersecurity defenses and help the public and private sectors work together to tackle cyber threats more effectively. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Senate and House, particularly my Ranking Member Dr. Coburn and his staff, for their tireless efforts and dedication. While we’ve made progress, we cannot end our efforts now. The threat is too great and continues to grow. Cybersecurity remains a top priority for me in the 114th Congress, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on additional measures to enhance our nation’s cybersecurity efforts.”
Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: “Our nation faces serious cybersecurity threats, including foreign nations and other adversaries that continue to compromise our networks and steal the America people’s sensitive information. These bills will help the nation address these threats. Updating the law for federal information security will ensure that agencies are accountable to Congress and the public for data breaches. Codifying the NCCIC will require DHS to improve its programs for assisting the private sector and sets the stage for future legislation to provide liability protection for sharing cyber threat information. I thank and applaud Chairman Carper for his dedication and leadership.” Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), House Homeland Security Committee: “With these bills we have laid the foundation for the fight against cyber-attacks and I am please the president has signed them into law. Every day Americans’ private information is lost, money is stolen, sensitive information is leaked and vital systems are disrupted in data breaches. But as we have seen with the Sony hack, cyber-attacks can be more than just theft – they can destroy. These bills are an important step in the right direction to protecting our vital networks, but there is more work to be done. Cybersecurity will be a top focus of my committee next Congress and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate on a renewed effort.” Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss), House Homeland Security Committee: “At the beginning of this Congress, expectations were high for some legislative action in the area of cybersecurity. It has taken some time to get here but what we have before us is something solid that sets forth what DHS must do, as the lead civilian agency for cybersecurity. With this cybersecurity legislation, simply put, we will raise the level of cybersecurity, particularly within the Federal government and protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure. I want to thank my colleagues in the House and Senate, both Democrat and Republican, for pushing hard to get this legislation passed."" Chairman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.), House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies: “This legislation is the first significant cyber legislation in a decade and among the most important legislation that has been passed this Congress. Cyberattacks against government agencies, corporations and consumers have grown exponentially over the past year, and losses from these breaches have reached into the billions of dollars. Cyber capabilities of our adversaries -- both states and non-state actors -- continue to grow and outpace our efforts to defend against them. This legislation is a major achievement to improve our nation’s cybersecurity defenses, improve coordination between government and private sector and protect the personal data of millions of American consumers.” Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY), House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies: “For the Department of Homeland Security to be effective in its cybersecurity mission, it must have a workforce in place to meet this challenge. The legislation the President signed includes language I included to help ensure that DHS has the ‘boots-on-the-ground’ it needs to meet its diverse cybersecurity mission by requiring it to develop and issue a comprehensive workforce strategy. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support and the spirit of collaboration they have shown this Congress."" Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: “The increasing number of cyber-attacks is unprecedented and poses a clear and present danger to our nation and our citizens, and together these laws are a critical first step toward addressing this growing threat. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act in particular will help ensure that federal agencies take a smart, risk-based approach to securing their networks.”
The following measures were enacted:
The National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014 (S. 2519) will codify the existing cybersecurity and communications operations center at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. It calls on the  Center to serve as a federal civilian information sharing interface for cybersecurity. The new law will authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cybersecurity information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cybersecurity. The law was originally introduced as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014 by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Subcommittee Chairman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY) introduced a bill with similar provisions in the House of Representatives.
The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (S. 2521), introduced by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), which updates the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 to better protect federal agencies from cyber attacks. The newly enacted law, which updates a 12-year-old law to meet the federal government’s current cybersecurity needs, establishes real-time monitoring of federal computer networks, and enhances oversight of federal data breaches.
The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2013 (S. 1691) included language from Senator Carper’s DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act, which will help the Department of Homeland Security recruit and retain cyber professionals who are in high demand across the government and private sector. The newly enacted law will help address critical challenges that the Department faces in hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals by providing the Secretary of Homeland Security hiring and compensation authorities for cybersecurity experts like those of the Secretary of Defense. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Subcommittee Chairman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY) introduced a bill with similar provisions in the House of Representatives.
The Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act (H.R. 2952) will examine where critical cyber positions are located within the Department, the Department’s readiness and capacity to meet its cyber missions, and the types of positions. The goal of the strategy will be to enhance the readiness, capacity, training, recruitment, and retention of the cybersecurity workforce, and will include a recruitment and implementation plan. The bill was originally introduced by House Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=4ec4b51b-d924-4aad-9615-77f2c33f5948,"Casey, Carper, Collins, Begich, McCaul Release GAO Report Laying Out Gaps In U.S. Emergency Preparedness, Opportunities to Close Capability Gaps",2014-12-19,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Co-Chair of the National Security Working Group; Tom Carper (D-DE), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Susan Collins (R-ME), former Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee; Mark Begich (D-AK); and Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report laying out gaps in the nation’s emergency preparedness and identifying opportunities to close capability gaps. The GAO analyzed the federal government’s preparedness for so called ‘no-notice’ catastrophic disasters which pose one of the greatest challenges to national emergency preparedness. The report finds that steps need to be taken to increase coordination among federal agencies so that federal officials are more consistently carrying out emergency preparedness activities. The Department of Homeland Security said that it will implement GAO’s recommendations, in coordination with other agencies.
“This report shows that additional steps and better coordination are needed at the federal level to make sure our agencies are prepared to respond to emergencies,” Senator Casey said. “I’m hopeful that the Administration will use this report to improve current policies and ensure that federal agencies with relevant jurisdiction are working with one another to enhance our nation’s preparedness.”  
“Disasters can strike at any time and at any place. Whether a disaster is natural or man-made, large or small, our federal government needs to be prepared,” said Chairman Carper. “This report makes it clear that federal agencies need to do a better job of coordinating and sharing information with each other and providing that information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Responding to a disaster is a shared responsibility by a number of agencies. While FEMA plays a central role in this effort, it’s crucial that other agencies are prepared and coordinate their response. I will continue to monitor agencies’ progress in implementing the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recommendations to improve overall coordination and collaboration. I will also continue to work with our partners at GAO as the agency conducts follow-up work to this report.”
“I am concerned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not been tracking the efforts by agencies to address their capability gaps in responding to ""no-notice emergencies,"" Senator Collins said. “As the name implies, these emergencies come with no advance warning and no time to prepare.  It is vitally important that DHS address the findings of this report to ensure that we are as prepared as we possibly can be for any disaster.  After observing the poor response at all levels of government to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, especially by FEMA, I led the effort to reshape and improve FEMA's response to emergencies with limited notice.  I hope this report will act as a catalyst for similar improvements in the ‘no-notice’ area.”
“The Secretary of Homeland Security is the principal federal official responsible for domestic incident management. Yet, according to GAO, cross-government coordination on preparedness efforts between DHS and other federal agencies are insufficient,” said Chairman McCaul. “As such, there is no way to know just how prepared the whole of our federal government is to respond to a terrorist attack or natural disaster. More than thirteen years after the terrorist attack on 9/11, this is unacceptable. I look forward to working with the Secretary and FEMA Administrator to address GAO's recommendations, including through my committee's efforts to authorize the Department of Homeland Security next year.""
GAO’s report can be found here: LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=715cef86-ee1b-4298-81c9-b507eef923d9,Chairman Carper Statement on Sony Cyber Attack,2014-12-19,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement in reaction to the announcement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that the North Korean government is responsible for launching a destructive cyber attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment:
“The recent destructive cyber attacks on Sony and related threats of violence on American moviegoers are deeply disturbing. Whether the perpetrator is North Korea or another bad actor, the United States takes these actions seriously. In light of this attack, it is critical that Congress continues to work with the Administration and stakeholders to bolster our defenses in cyberspace and better protect our citizens, businesses, and the values that we cherish. Part of that effort includes working on ways to strengthen our cybersecurity laws. While we have made important progress on cybersecurity legislation this year, we still need to take additional steps to keep up with this evolving cyber threat. I will stay in contact with the Administration as our nation addresses this latest attack and will continue to work with my colleagues in the 114th Congress on our nation’s evolving cybersecurity needs.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=98c89e6b-4972-440b-bb71-7e5a2def0e9f,Chairman Carper Statement on the Independent Review of the U.S. Secret Service,2014-12-18,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding the recommendations produced by an independent review of the U.S. Secret Service:
“The U.S. Secret Service is a critical agency and its mission is an essential part of our national security. However, incidents over the past several years, including some as recently as this fall, have raised serious questions about the agency and its ability to fulfill its responsibilities. Today, an independent panel, appointed by Secretary Johnson, issued a number of recommendations to improve the Secret Service. While my staff and I are still reviewing the panel’s full report, its recommendations offer substantive, corrective, and common-sense steps that the Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service should carefully review and build into the agency’s operations, training, and mission. Change at the agency won’t happen overnight. As the panel noted, it will take strong, stable leadership and an unwavering commitment by the Department, the Secret Service, and its agents. It will also take resources, and those of us in Congress must be mindful of this need when determining the Department’s budget early next year. Given the importance of leadership to any organization, particularly one like the Secret Service, I urge Secretary Johnson to work with the President to find a permanent director as soon as possible so he or she can help guide the agency into this new chapter. Our committee will continue to monitor the Secret Service’s progress closely.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5dc5fb11-05af-47cb-a599-e6ae75287be1,"Sen. Carper Applauds Release of Alan Gross, Encouraged by Policy Shift Toward Cuba",2014-12-17,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after President Obama announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba and the release of Alan Gross, an American who has been held in a Cuban prison for the past five years for traveling to the country on a humanitarian mission.
“I am elated that Alan Gross is now safely back in the United States and reunited with his family. I wish him and his family a healthy recovery from what must have been an excruciatingly long and difficult five years. I applaud the president and my colleagues in Congress who worked tirelessly to bring him home.  
“I am also very encouraged by President Obama’s announcement that our government will be pursuing a new course with Cuba. After more than 50 years of strained relations, it’s about time we move on from this ‘outdated approach’ as the president said today. Years ago, I was proud to play a small part in normalizing our relationship with Vietnam, after 55,000 lives were lost in a war there. I am confident we can take a balanced approach to doing the same in Cuba that opens up economic opportunities for both countries while still applying pressure for Cuba to establish a more democratic government and end the human rights abuses that have plagued the country for decades.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=afb19f3a-c4c7-4ffc-8ba9-ce0c20dfbd28,Senate Confirms Sarah Saldana to lead  Immigration and Customs Enforcement within DHS,2014-12-16,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Sarah Saldaña to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Senate confirmed Ms. Saldaña by a vote of 55 to 39.
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been without a presidentially appointed leader for more than 16 months – that is far too long, particularly considering the challenges we face along our borders,” said Chairman Carper. “Sarah Saldaña will provide the leadership our country needs in this critically important and particularly challenging position. Ms. Saldaña is a respected member of the law enforcement community who comes highly recommended, with bipartisan support. Thankfully, Ms. Saldaña has graciously stepped up to the plate to assume this demanding appointment. She undoubtedly has a tough job ahead of her, but I believe that she is up to the task.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=ff70c9ef-e758-4c92-9ade-36b92c096284,Chairman Carper Recognizes Exemplary DHS Employee on the Senate Floor,2014-12-16,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to recognize Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employee, Mr. Don Marfisi, for his exemplary dedication to public service.

To watch a recording of the speech on the Senate floor, click here or below:
Chairman Carper’s statement, as prepared for delivery, follows:
“Mr. President, over the past two years, I’ve had the great privilege to chair the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Our Committee has many responsibilities, one of those being oversight of the Department of Homeland Security.
“The Department is just shy of 12 years old, which is pretty young compared to other agencies. It was established in 2003, following the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and brought together 22 agencies under one new Department.  Trying to form one, unified agency has not been easy. There have been growing pains. However, Secretary Jeh Johnson, Deputy Secretary Ali Mayorkas, and their leadership team have made great strides in addressing these challenges and I am confident that their hard work will continue… and pay off.
“But behind the leadership team at DHS are the more than 200,000 men and women who go to work each day to fulfill one critical mission: to create a safe, secure and resilient place where the American way of life can thrive. Whether these employees are countering terrorism, securing our borders and airports, responding to natural disasters or bolstering our defenses in cyber space, few other federal agencies and employees touch the lives of Americans on a daily basis more than the Department of Homeland Security.
“As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I have had the great pleasure of meeting with many of these men and women and learning more about their work, their families, and their dedicated service to our nation. I’ve also heard DHS leadership from across the Department, including Secretary Johnson, sing their praises and describe the mission-critical work they perform day in and day out in communities across our nation.
“Mr. Don Marfisi of Kansas City, Missouri is one of those employees, and I would like to acknowledge his service here today. Don grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and is the son of a civil servant and homemaker. His father worked for the City of Omaha, his brother worked for the Department of Justice and his son currently works for the Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri. Clearly, public service is a deep tradition in his family – and from what I hear, something Don takes to heart.
“Don began his federal service more than 24 years ago as a Supply Clerk with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Lincoln, Nebraska. Four years later, in August 1998, he joined the Immigration and Naturalization Services in the Department of Justice. After a little over a year there, he was transferred to Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security. 
“Within Citizenship and Immigration Services, Don works at the National Records Center where he is responsible for logistics, procurement and property management. You can still find him there today. In fact, his colleagues consider him a ‘Cave Pillar,’ having worked at the Center since opening day. What does the National Records Center do, exactly? According to the Department, it is the keystone to USCIS’ recordkeeping -- housing millions of paper records that have been centralized into a single, state-of-the-art facility. The Center where Don works improves the integrity of USCIS' recordkeeping and dramatically reduces the time it takes to retrieve a file or paperwork, meaning faster application processing for an agency charged with overseeing our nation’s immigration system. 
“Don’s current job title -- Missions Support Specialist -- doesn’t quite do his work justice. His colleagues tell me that Don is not just a “support specialist” but an integral part of the National Records Center’s mission support team and plays an important role in nearly all of the logistics-related projects executed at the Center. In this position, he develops and administers best-practices for federal procurement and property management. While he avoids the spotlight, he is highly valued and sought-out for his expertise in the asset management field. Don’s colleagues tell me that: ‘Through his painstaking attention to detail and timely responsiveness … he has provided a superior level of customer service to local employees and other stakeholders.’
“Don’s attention to detail ensures that folks within Citizenship and Immigration Services have the tools and resources they need to get their job done. But Don’s critical eye and expertise in procurement is also credited for saving the government and taxpayers over $500,000 in fiscal year 2013 and over $800,000 to date in fiscal year 2014.  Let me repeat that: Don has saved American’s taxpayers $1.3 million dollars over two years. But his service and stewardship doesn’t end there. At the same time he’s saving the Department hundreds of thousands of dollars -- he’s finding a way to give back.
“Along with the money he’s been able to trim off the federal deficit, he has managed to arrange the contribution of nearly $800,000 in equipment to local schools through the General Services Administration Property Disposal program. Through this program he ensures that unused or older government equipment goes directly to local schools. Because of his efforts, computers and other equipment that would otherwise be trashed or recycled are used to boost education. As you can imagine, the educators, communities, and students who receive the equipment have been overjoyed with the generous donations. But don’t just take my word for it.
“In 2012, Miami R-1 School District, in Amoret, Missouri, a small K-12 school located on the Missouri border in the middle of corn fields and cow pastures received $45,259.66 worth of recycled technology equipment. Sharon Knuth, the school’s technology administrator wrote to Don, saying that her District was ‘blessed by the GSA Property Disposal program.’ Adding, ‘we are limited in our funds and budgets so we do not always have the chance to purchase the latest technology equipment. Because of your generosity, we will put the computers, monitors, speakers and plugs, to good use… We will grow and prosper only because we found some great friends like you who gave us support along the way.’ Another school in Chadwick, Missouri thanked Don for the ‘blessing’ of new technology they received through his efforts.
But there’s more. Don was also a member of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Inclusion’s (OEOI’s) Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Program team which facilitated more than $1 million in computer equipment donations in fiscal year 2014.
“Don has been recognized for his extraordinary accomplishments in years past.  In  2013, for example, he was recognized as ‘USCIS Employee of the Year’ and as one of the National Record Center’s  ‘Employees of the Quarter.’ Yet despite these great accomplishments and high praise from his colleagues, Don insists that every award is a “team award.” And when he learned he was gathering such high praise for his work, his response was that “Being recognized for your efforts is appreciated, however, I’m the fortunate one, I get to reuse items and give – two things I enjoy doing.” Like a true leader, he is humble.
“Don reminds me of something I learned from Department Secretary Jeh Johnson during his confirmation. I learned that one of Secretary Johnson’s guiding principles is a lesson from Dr. Benjamin “Bennie” Mays, the former President of Morehouse College, who said, ‘you earn a living by what you get; you earn a life by what you give.’ Think about that for a second, and then think about Don and all the giving he has done throughout his career. Mr. Secretary, you have a remarkable employee in your ranks.    
“But Don’s service doesn’t end at the Department – he has a couple of other critical roles: husband and father. He has been married to his wife, Pam, for 30 years and has a son, Josiah and daughter, Anna. And when he’s able to find some well-deserved downtime, he enjoys watching Nebraska Cornhuskers football with his family. To Pam, Josiah and Anna: thank you for sharing your husband and father with us. He’s done some extraordinary work for his country and community. We are incredibly proud of him and we bet you are too.
“To Don Marfisi: On behalf of my colleagues here, and the nation, I want to thank you for what you do each day, for your tireless service and your immeasurable generosity to our great nation.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/otherstatements?ContentRecord_id=368c5f09-db32-4881-874a-084f58cc10c1,Chairman Carper Urges his Senate Colleagues to Support Critical DHS Leadership Nominations,2014-12-15,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support two critical nominations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Russ Deyo to be Under Secretary for Management at the Department and Sarah Saldaña to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Chairman Carper’s statement, as prepared for delivery, follows:
“Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support two critical nominations for the Department of Homeland Security: Russ Deyo to be Under Secretary for Management at the Department and Sarah Saldaña to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 
“The Committee which I am privileged to chair – the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee –is responsible for working with the Administration and others to help protect our nation’s security at home and abroad.  At the same time, we strive to make sure that federal agencies work better and more efficiently with the resources we entrust to them.
“During my years of public service, I’ve learned that the most important ingredient in helping organizations to work is leadership.   That is the case both in government and the private sector, and in organizations large and small.  Part of our responsibility here in the Senate is to ensure that we have effective leaders in place across our federal government. While Congress will soon wrap up the 2014 session, the Senate has the opportunity and obligation to fill two key leadership posts in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Under Secretary for Management and Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This Department, as we all know, plays a critical role in protecting our nation from a number of threats, including terrorism, cyber-attacks, and natural disasters to name a few. Given the Department’s significant role in the security of our country, it is critical that Secretary Johnson has a full leadership team in place. That includes Russ Deyo as his Under Secretary for Management, the third-highest position in the Department. I’d like to take some time to explain why Mr. Deyo’s nomination is so important.
“As of this week, more than ten months will have passed since the last Senate-confirmed Under Secretary for Management, Rafael Borras stepped down from his post. Again, it’s been nearly a year since the Department’s third-highest position has had permanent leadership. Under-Secretary Borras was widely respected by members of my Committee and others for his leadership, management expertise, and candor.  He helped the Department make strides in many areas and led the Department to its first clean financial audit – something the Department was able to achieve again this year. I think it’s safe to say that the Department needs somebody with this same kind of commitment and leadership. I believe Russ Deyo is that person. 
“Mr. Deyo had an impressive 27-year career with Johnson & Johnson, where he served in several top positions, including General Counsel and Vice President for Administration. He also spent the last 15 years serving on the “Executive Committee” at Johnson and Johnson, which is the principal management group responsible for the Company’s global operations.  He was also a partner at a major U.S. law firm. Russ Deyo is also no stranger to public service and working with law enforcement organizations. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Jersey for eight years, including a period as chief of the public corruption unit. His perspective from the private and public sectors will be an invaluable asset to Secretary Johnson. Particularly, as the Secretary implements his “Unity of Effort” initiatives at the Department, which strives to help the Department operate in a more unified and cohesive manner across all components. 
“If confirmed, Mr. Deyo will have a number other challenges on his plate. For example, our friends at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) continue to remind us that the acquisition and budgeting systems at DHS are not fully mature. In fact, the overall management of the Department remains on GAO’s “High Risk” list of government operations that need urgent attention. And, of course, if confirmed, Mr. Deyo will inherit the challenge of improving the morale across the Department.
“These are tough challenges and some have been around since the creation of the Department. But I believe Mr. Deyo has the leadership experience and skills necessary to tackle these challenges and really make a difference. And I’m not the only one. Mr. Deyo has received glowing accolades from a number of our colleagues who have worked closely with him. In fact, here’s what former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff had to say when he introduced Mr. Deyo at his confirmation hearing before my Committee: ‘Russ brings to the position he has been nominated for a broad range of experience with one of the best enterprises in the world . . . You will find him to be a smart, experienced, and devoted public servant who will actually bring a unique set of skills to this job which are very critical. I could not give a stronger endorsement to Mr. Deyo for this position.’
“Russ Deyo also received a strong endorsement from the three former Under Secretaries for Management at DHS – Paul Schneider, Elaine Duke, and Rafael Borras. Here’s what they had to say: ‘Russ Deyo is an outstanding choice by the President to be the Under Secretary for Management. An impressive leader, he brings the requisite skills, experience, and leadership to this important position. He is recognized as a professional, unflappable statesman who can meet the challenges that this position faces head on and get results.’
“Everything I have learned about Mr. Deyo over the past several months has led me to conclude that he is an exceptional candidate to be the next Under Secretary for Management at DHS. I urge all of my colleagues to support the nomination of Russ Deyo.
“I’d now like to discuss the nomination of Sarah Saldaña to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or “ICE” is a vital law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security and has been without a presidentially appointed leader for more than 16 months. That is far too long – particularly considering all the issues we face along our borders and the more than 400 laws ICE enforces.
“Some of my colleagues may not be familiar with what ICE does, and why it is so critical for the agency to have Senate-confirmed leadership in place. ICE is one of the nation's largest law enforcement agencies, with more than 19,000 employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 48 foreign countries. What do all these people do? Well, in 2013, ICE special agents initiated 126,425 new investigations, made over 40,000 criminal arrests, seized $1.3 billion in currency and assets, and took 1.6 million pounds of narcotics and other dangerous drugs off our streets. And on any given day, ICE arrests 370 criminal aliens in the interior of the country, has 34,000 people in detention, and removes nearly 500 criminal aliens from our country.
“Managing such a large agency, with one of the most complex missions in the federal government, is a tall order. Thankfully, Ms. Saldaña has agreed to step up to the challenge. Ms. Saldaña is a true American success story. She rose from humble beginnings in South Texas as the youngest of seven children to become an accomplished partner at a major law firm.  She is now one of the nation’s top law enforcement officers.  Ms. Saldaña was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2011 to her current position as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. She has a distinguished record, representing the U.S. government as the senior law enforcement officer in one of the largest districts in the nation, spanning some 100 counties. In this role, she deals as closely and extensively as anyone else with the threats this country faces every day from transnational criminal networks. This experience will serve her well at ICE.
“But don’t take my word for it. One of my good friends here in the Senate, Senator Cornyn, felt strongly enough about her qualifications that he introduced Ms. Saldaña at her confirmation hearing before the Committee I chair, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Here’s what Senator Cornyn had to say: ‘In her role as U.S. Attorney and prosecutor over the past decade, Ms. Saldaña has served our State with honor, fighting corrupt public officials, organized crime, sex traffickers, and other dangerous criminals.’
“That certainly sounds like a highly qualified candidate to me.  But that’s not all Senator Cornyn had to say about Ms. Saldaña.  He went on to say: ‘If respect for the rule of law is our standard, and I think it should be, we would be hard pressed to find a person more qualified to enforce the law than Ms. Saldaña.’
“That is high praise indeed—and I couldn’t agree more. Now, some are arguing that we should not confirm Ms. Saldaña because of the President’s recent executive action on immigration. This decision will provide relief from deportation for as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows today, law-abiding people who are productive members of our communities. Still, some argue that the President’s actions should preclude the Senate from confirming even a highly qualified candidate like Sarah Saldaña to this critical position.
“I think that is absurd. We have before the Senate a highly qualified candidate who, according to her neighbor and senior Senator from Texas, is fiercely independent, has served with honor in her current role, and respects the rule of law. It does not punish the President to leave this position unfilled; it punishes our citizens. It makes it harder for ICE to accomplish its mission. And it hurts the men and women at ICE, who deserve a leader to ensure this important agency runs as effectively as possible. I believe that the President acted within the bounds of the law in announcing his executive actions. Whether you agree with me or not, opposing Ms. Saldaña’s nomination will do nothing to change what the President has done. 
“So I hope that Ms. Saldaña—the first Hispanic person and second woman to be nominated to run Immigration and Customs Enforcement—does not fall victim to politics as usual in the Senate. She is by all accounts exactly what this critical agency needs: a proven leader and respected member of the law enforcement community. Ms. Saldaña will have a tough job ahead of her if she is confirmed this week, but I believe that she is up to the task. I urge all of my colleagues to support her, as I do.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=a1ee37cc-e9d4-4486-8d21-c810f3e4da45,Chairman Carper Urges his Senate Colleagues to Support Critical DHS Leadership Nominations,2014-12-15,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support two critical nominations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Russ Deyo to be Under Secretary for Management at the Department and Sarah Saldaña to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Chairman Carper’s statement, as prepared for delivery, follows:
“Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support two critical nominations for the Department of Homeland Security: Russ Deyo to be Under Secretary for Management at the Department and Sarah Saldaña to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 
“The Committee which I am privileged to chair – the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee –is responsible for working with the Administration and others to help protect our nation’s security at home and abroad.  At the same time, we strive to make sure that federal agencies work better and more efficiently with the resources we entrust to them.
“During my years of public service, I’ve learned that the most important ingredient in helping organizations to work is leadership.   That is the case both in government and the private sector, and in organizations large and small.  Part of our responsibility here in the Senate is to ensure that we have effective leaders in place across our federal government. While Congress will soon wrap up the 2014 session, the Senate has the opportunity and obligation to fill two key leadership posts in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Under Secretary for Management and Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This Department, as we all know, plays a critical role in protecting our nation from a number of threats, including terrorism, cyber-attacks, and natural disasters to name a few. Given the Department’s significant role in the security of our country, it is critical that Secretary Johnson has a full leadership team in place. That includes Russ Deyo as his Under Secretary for Management, the third-highest position in the Department. I’d like to take some time to explain why Mr. Deyo’s nomination is so important.
“As of this week, more than ten months will have passed since the last Senate-confirmed Under Secretary for Management, Rafael Borras stepped down from his post. Again, it’s been nearly a year since the Department’s third-highest position has had permanent leadership. Under-Secretary Borras was widely respected by members of my Committee and others for his leadership, management expertise, and candor.  He helped the Department make strides in many areas and led the Department to its first clean financial audit – something the Department was able to achieve again this year. I think it’s safe to say that the Department needs somebody with this same kind of commitment and leadership. I believe Russ Deyo is that person. 
“Mr. Deyo had an impressive 27-year career with Johnson & Johnson, where he served in several top positions, including General Counsel and Vice President for Administration. He also spent the last 15 years serving on the “Executive Committee” at Johnson and Johnson, which is the principal management group responsible for the Company’s global operations.  He was also a partner at a major U.S. law firm. Russ Deyo is also no stranger to public service and working with law enforcement organizations. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Jersey for eight years, including a period as chief of the public corruption unit. His perspective from the private and public sectors will be an invaluable asset to Secretary Johnson. Particularly, as the Secretary implements his “Unity of Effort” initiatives at the Department, which strives to help the Department operate in a more unified and cohesive manner across all components. 
“If confirmed, Mr. Deyo will have a number other challenges on his plate. For example, our friends at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) continue to remind us that the acquisition and budgeting systems at DHS are not fully mature. In fact, the overall management of the Department remains on GAO’s “High Risk” list of government operations that need urgent attention. And, of course, if confirmed, Mr. Deyo will inherit the challenge of improving the morale across the Department.
“These are tough challenges and some have been around since the creation of the Department. But I believe Mr. Deyo has the leadership experience and skills necessary to tackle these challenges and really make a difference. And I’m not the only one. Mr. Deyo has received glowing accolades from a number of our colleagues who have worked closely with him. In fact, here’s what former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff had to say when he introduced Mr. Deyo at his confirmation hearing before my Committee: ‘Russ brings to the position he has been nominated for a broad range of experience with one of the best enterprises in the world . . . You will find him to be a smart, experienced, and devoted public servant who will actually bring a unique set of skills to this job which are very critical. I could not give a stronger endorsement to Mr. Deyo for this position.’
“Russ Deyo also received a strong endorsement from the three former Under Secretaries for Management at DHS – Paul Schneider, Elaine Duke, and Rafael Borras. Here’s what they had to say: ‘Russ Deyo is an outstanding choice by the President to be the Under Secretary for Management. An impressive leader, he brings the requisite skills, experience, and leadership to this important position. He is recognized as a professional, unflappable statesman who can meet the challenges that this position faces head on and get results.’
“Everything I have learned about Mr. Deyo over the past several months has led me to conclude that he is an exceptional candidate to be the next Under Secretary for Management at DHS. I urge all of my colleagues to support the nomination of Russ Deyo.
“I’d now like to discuss the nomination of Sarah Saldaña to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or “ICE” is a vital law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security and has been without a presidentially appointed leader for more than 16 months. That is far too long – particularly considering all the issues we face along our borders and the more than 400 laws ICE enforces.
“Some of my colleagues may not be familiar with what ICE does, and why it is so critical for the agency to have Senate-confirmed leadership in place. ICE is one of the nation's largest law enforcement agencies, with more than 19,000 employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 48 foreign countries. What do all these people do? Well, in 2013, ICE special agents initiated 126,425 new investigations, made over 40,000 criminal arrests, seized $1.3 billion in currency and assets, and took 1.6 million pounds of narcotics and other dangerous drugs off our streets. And on any given day, ICE arrests 370 criminal aliens in the interior of the country, has 34,000 people in detention, and removes nearly 500 criminal aliens from our country.
“Managing such a large agency, with one of the most complex missions in the federal government, is a tall order. Thankfully, Ms. Saldaña has agreed to step up to the challenge. Ms. Saldaña is a true American success story. She rose from humble beginnings in South Texas as the youngest of seven children to become an accomplished partner at a major law firm.  She is now one of the nation’s top law enforcement officers.  Ms. Saldaña was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2011 to her current position as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. She has a distinguished record, representing the U.S. government as the senior law enforcement officer in one of the largest districts in the nation, spanning some 100 counties. In this role, she deals as closely and extensively as anyone else with the threats this country faces every day from transnational criminal networks. This experience will serve her well at ICE.
“But don’t take my word for it. One of my good friends here in the Senate, Senator Cornyn, felt strongly enough about her qualifications that he introduced Ms. Saldaña at her confirmation hearing before the Committee I chair, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Here’s what Senator Cornyn had to say: ‘In her role as U.S. Attorney and prosecutor over the past decade, Ms. Saldaña has served our State with honor, fighting corrupt public officials, organized crime, sex traffickers, and other dangerous criminals.’
“That certainly sounds like a highly qualified candidate to me.  But that’s not all Senator Cornyn had to say about Ms. Saldaña.  He went on to say: ‘If respect for the rule of law is our standard, and I think it should be, we would be hard pressed to find a person more qualified to enforce the law than Ms. Saldaña.’
“That is high praise indeed—and I couldn’t agree more. Now, some are arguing that we should not confirm Ms. Saldaña because of the President’s recent executive action on immigration. This decision will provide relief from deportation for as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows today, law-abiding people who are productive members of our communities. Still, some argue that the President’s actions should preclude the Senate from confirming even a highly qualified candidate like Sarah Saldaña to this critical position.
“I think that is absurd. We have before the Senate a highly qualified candidate who, according to her neighbor and senior Senator from Texas, is fiercely independent, has served with honor in her current role, and respects the rule of law. It does not punish the President to leave this position unfilled; it punishes our citizens. It makes it harder for ICE to accomplish its mission. And it hurts the men and women at ICE, who deserve a leader to ensure this important agency runs as effectively as possible. I believe that the President acted within the bounds of the law in announcing his executive actions. Whether you agree with me or not, opposing Ms. Saldaña’s nomination will do nothing to change what the President has done. 
“So I hope that Ms. Saldaña—the first Hispanic person and second woman to be nominated to run Immigration and Customs Enforcement—does not fall victim to politics as usual in the Senate. She is by all accounts exactly what this critical agency needs: a proven leader and respected member of the law enforcement community. Ms. Saldaña will have a tough job ahead of her if she is confirmed this week, but I believe that she is up to the task. I urge all of my colleagues to support her, as I do.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=7d0b25b5-d239-4113-808e-c6933f0ec6fd,Senate Passes Bipartisan Fix to the Affordable Care Act to Save Jobs in Delaware,2014-12-13,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Saturday night to approve the omnibus spending package, which included bipartisan legislation written by Congressman John Carney (D-Del.) and Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) to improve the Affordable Care Act, help protect jobs in Delaware, and ensure access to quality health insurance coverage for expatriates working in the U.S. and abroad.  The legislation – also led by Rep. David Nunes (R-Calif.) in the House and Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in the Senate – clarifies how the Affordable Care Act applies to expatriate health insurance plans, ensuring that U.S. based expatriate insurance carriers can compete on a level playing field with their foreign competitors and that American jobs stay here in America. In February 2014, Cigna implemented a hiring freeze at its Delaware facility and has warned of potential layoffs should this legislation not be signed into law. Cigna employs 500 people in Delaware who write the plans affected by this legislation. The Delaware delegation has been working for the past three and a half years to ensure these jobs are protected.
“For more than three years, Congressman Carney and Senator Coons have been my steadfast and tireless partners as we worked together to improve the Affordable Care Act and its treatment of expatriate health insurance plans,” Sen. Carper said. “Earlier this week, Congressman Carney led us to a tremendous victory in the House of Representatives and, today, we pushed this important fix across the finish line in the Senate. This bill ensures that American insurance carriers can compete on a level playing field with their foreign competitors and will likely save hundreds of American jobs in Delaware and even more across the country. I was proud to author a number of key provisions in the health care reform law; however I’ve long said it is not written in stone, and it’s not perfect, so we should work together to make improvements where they are needed. That’s exactly what we’ve done with this common-sense fix for expatriate insurance plans. I'm hopeful that the bipartisan, bicameral cooperation displayed in successfully passing this legislation serves as a blueprint for members of Congress to work together on other common sense legislation moving forward‎.”
“The Affordable Care Act has already done a tremendous amount of good for a lot of Delawareans, but it isn’t perfect and it needs to be repaired,” Senator Coons said. “As we discover mistakes that need to be fixed and opportunities to make it work better for even more Americans, it is Congress’ responsibility to act. An error written into the law pertaining to specialized insurance plans for Americans who work abroad threatened the viability of American-issued expatriate health plans in the global market and jeopardized the jobs of the more than 500 Delawareans who service those plans. Our legislation levels the playing field for these American companies and their foreign competitors, ensuring Cigna will keep these jobs in Delaware. It has taken more than three years of relentless work by Congressman Carney, Senator Carper, Governor Markell, and me, who have met hundreds of times and worked to develop legislation to narrowly and responsibly fix the problem. It was because of the bipartisan, bicameral support that we methodically built for this bill that the leadership of both parties in both chambers agreed to include this measure in the omnibus spending bill that the Senate passed tonight. This is an important victory for our state and I am proud to have been able to help.” 
Cigna employees in Delaware sell, write, manage and service expatriate health insurance plans, which offer robust coverage to people working outside their home country, giving them access to a global network of health care providers. Individuals on the plan could be foreign employees working here in America, Americans working abroad, or, for instance, a German working in France. Expatriates can be NGO and foreign aid workers, pilots, cruise ship workers, and contractors sent to support our troops on deployment around the globe.
Inadvertently, the Affordable Care Act was written in a way that subjects U.S. expatriate health insurance plans to all the provisions of the health care reform law, which placed a unique burden on these types of plans, given that their foreign competitors are not subjected to the same requirements. Several U.S. health insurance companies -- Cigna, MetLife, Aetna, and United Health – compete with foreign insurers to offer expatriate health insurance plans to globally mobile workforce. Since foreign insurers are not required to comply with the Affordable Care Act, they often had an unfair advantage over Cigna and other U.S. health insurers.  This bill helps to remove this unfair advantage for foreign insurers and to ensure that U.S. and foreign expatriate health insurers can compete on a level playing field.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=dfe99ebb-eca2-4652-80c9-c84c3ba81e3d,Senator Carper Votes for FY15 Spending Bill,2014-12-13,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve H.R. 83, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015. The legislation provides funding for federal agencies for fiscal year 2015 but only funds the Department of Homeland Security until February 27, 2015.
“It’s should be clear to Congress that Americans want us to work together, get things done, and grow and strengthen our economy. The 2015 fiscal year spending bill is an important step toward doing what Americans expect us to do. I’d like to commend the efforts of my colleague, Senator Barbara Mikulski, for bringing a full year appropriations bill for nearly the entire government to the Senate floor. As a former Governor and now as Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, I know how important it is to provide timely and predictable budgets for our government agencies.
“This bill provides much-needed resources to address the underlying causes of the increase in migration we’ve seen from Central America. Specifically, it includes an increase of $130 million to address what I believe to be the root causes of this surge: the lack of economic opportunities, jobs, and hope in the nations of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, combined with increasing violence and insecurity in the region. While this money is not a silver bullet, I hope it is the beginning of a sustained focus on – and investment in—   the region by the U.S. and our partners in the region.
“The measure also contains emergency funding to help meet our immediate and long term needs related to the Ebola epidemic.  This includes needed funding to ensure the faster development of vaccines and medicines to treat the disease and more training and supplies for our nation’s healthcare workers and first responders. I am also pleased to see this bill dedicates funds to help our nation as we continue our campaign to defeat terrorism, including ISIS and other Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria
“Unfortunately, one agency vital to our overall national security will not receive its full year funding. I am deeply disappointed that the funding for the Department of Homeland Security is now the subject of partisan politics and political gamesmanship.  The Department is charged with keeping our nation and Americans safe.  Putting it on a short-term continuing resolution degrades employee morale, hurts day-to-day operations, hinders its ability to plan for the future, and creates inefficiency and uncertainty throughout its components. For example, it will hurt the Secret Service’s ability to hire and train new agents as it prepares for the 2016 presidential election. It will also negatively affect state and local governments who receive support from the Department for emergency response and law enforcement needs. Doing this to such a key national security agency is dangerous and counterproductive. 
“As I’ve said before, I believe the best route we can take when it comes to funding our government is to pass a comprehensive, bipartisan budget plan that gives agencies and business certainty and shows the American people that we can lead. Then we need to translate those plans into timely appropriations bills that will let agencies and their partners spend their time trying to get better results for the taxpayer dollar, not hastily putting together contingency plans.
“While I commend all of the progress our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have made with this bill, we still have a ways to go. I think we all agree that it’s time for this partisan, stopgap budgeting to end on all levels. It’s time for Congress to put politics aside, work together, and do what’s right for our country.”
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=f5153c02-ac19-4eb8-9bba-360a7b3940be,Chairman Carper Urges Senate to Move Forward on Critical Nominations,2014-12-13,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support the critical nominations approved by the committee and waiting for consideration on the full Senate floor. His statement, as prepared for delivery, follows:
“Mr. President— I rise today to discuss a number of nominations that have been considered and approved by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and urge the Senate to swiftly confirm them before we adjourn for the year. 
“I have spoken repeatedly about the large and very troubling backlog of nominations in the Senate.  It is every Senator’s constitutional role to provide advice and consent on the President’s nominations in a thorough and timely manner as part of the Senate’s confirmation process. We do our country no service – and ourselves no honor – when we leave key institutions without proper leadership and leave honorable men and women willing to serve in government twisting in the wind.
“During my time as Chairman of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, I’ve made it one of my top priorities to work closely with our Ranking Republican, Tom Coburn, to consider and move the President’s nominees as quickly as possible.  We’ve had a tremendous amount of success.  Majority Leader Reid, Senator McConnell, and their staffs have been valuable partners in this effort.
“Just yesterday, our Committee reported out three more outstanding nominees – Sarah Saldana to be head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security, Russell Deyo to be the top management official at the Department, and Mickey Barnett to serve another term on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors. 
“I believe Ms. Saldana and Mr. Deyo will almost certainly be confirmed in short order.  I urge my colleagues to review their qualifications and work with me to fill these two vacancies at the Department of Homeland Security in the coming days.
“I’d like to spend some time on the floor today discussing Mr. Barnett’s nomination, and those of several other lower-profile nominees that we urgently need to confirm as soon as we can. Mr. Barnett is among a group of five bipartisan nominees to the Postal Board of Governors – two Republicans and three Democrats.  If we don’t confirm Mr. Barnett and his colleagues by December 8th, Mr. Barnett – currently the Board’s chairman – would be forced the leave the Board. If that happens, the Board will no longer have enough members to achieve a quorum and won’t be able to conduct business.  At a time when the Postal Service is struggling to address a number of financial challenges and to adapt to the digital age, this would be an avoidable disaster.
“Today, because of our inability here in Congress to come to consensus on postal reform legislation, the Postal Service is just twisting in the wind, able to do only so much to address the financial challenges it faces and transform itself for the digital age.  Customers are left with uncertainty, then, about what the future holds for the Postal Service.  We would make that uncertainty even worse if December 8th comes and goes and our five Postal Board nominees are still waiting for us to act.
“The same goes for our nominees to fill vacancies on the Postal Regulatory Commission, Nanci Langley and Tony Hammond.  They’ve been waiting since the spring of 2013 to be confirmed, and the Commission has been working with only three commissioners as a result. 
“Also pending before the Senate are two nominations to the D.C. Superior Court: Judge William Nooter and Judge Steven Wellner.  These are both qualified nominees who, like the Homeland Security and postal nominees I’ve discussed, won bipartisan support in Committee and are needed to fill vacancies on the District of Columbia’s busy trial court. Judge Nooter and Judge Wellner were reported out by our committee with unanimous, bipartisan support months ago. In Judge Nooter’s case, more than a year ago.
“As I’ve discussed, these men are not alone in waiting so long for confirmation.  But the problem is particularly unfair when it comes to the District of Columbia court system. Earlier this fall, during the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on D.C. Statehood, the current vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court were included as one of the many injustices the District faces simply because it serves as the nation’s capital. The District of Columbia already suffers from not having control over its own laws or local tax dollars. The citizens of this city should not also have to face a compromised legal system as well. While we in Congress may not be able to fix everything, I do think this is one of the few issues that we can and must address now.
“The D.C. Superior Court is a local court that hears primarily local matters.  Most nominees are entirely uncontroversial and used to go through the Senate without a recorded floor vote. But because these local judges go through Senate confirmation, they have been caught up in the broader politics and stalemate of the Senate floor.  No other local or state jurisdiction must have its non-federal judges approved by Congress. And no other state or locality is without a vote in the Senate to help push for action on nominations of concern to that community.
“The D.C. Superior Court is operated by the federal government and its judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 15 year terms. It is important to note that, although this court is operated by the federal government, it is separate from the federal government.  Instead, the Superior Court is the local trial court for the District of Columbia and handles matters such as local crimes, and domestic and civil disputes. Nevertheless, because this Court is operated by the federal government, the President nominates candidates for judicial vacancies from a slate prepared by a non-partisan nomination commission, and the Senate must confirm the nominees.
“Currently, there are four vacancies on the Superior Court; due to planned retirement and medical leave, this number will rise by the end of this year.  These vacancies hinder the Superior Court’s ability to administer justice for D.C. residents. Superior Court judges already carry heavy caseloads. The existing vacancies, the majority of which are in the family court division, threaten to undermine the Judges’ ability to give proper attention to each case, including those cases in family court that affect the welfare of children.
“Recently, the Chief Judge of the Superior Court and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia have sent myself and both Senate leaders a letter raising these concerns and ultimately seeking a Senate vote on Judges Nooter and Wellner.
“Judge Nooter is currently the Presiding Magistrate Judge on the Superior Court and has served as a Magistrate Judge for the past 14 years. As Presiding Magistrate Judge, he manages 23 fellow magistrate judges and serves on the Leadership Team of the Chief Judge of the Superior Court. Judge Wellner currently serves as an Administrative Law Judge for the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. Since 2011, he has led the Unemployment Insurance Division, by all accounts skillfully coordinating a team of ten Administrative Law Judges and support staff to adjudicate over 3,000 unemployment insurance cases per year.
“Mr. President, given the caliber of these nominees, the lack of controversy over their nominations, and the bi-partisan support received, I urge this body to move their confirmations forward as soon as possible.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=9abd444c-c5e1-4ca2-8622-e957ec08de6b,The Clock is Ticking.,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 12, 2014
Dear Friends,
On January 1, 2015, millions of Americans and thousands of Delawareans will be enrolled in high-quality, dependable health insurance plans. Will you be one of them?
I hope you already are, but if you don't have health insurance secured for next year yet, the clock is ticking! Any Delawareans who want coverage that begins January 1 must enroll by December 15. That's Monday! With only a few days left before time runs out, I encourage you to stop and think about whether you still need to enroll or re-enroll in a health plan for the coming new year. If you're set, then please check with your friends and family to be sure they are, too.

I’d like to introduce you to Ray Halbach, one Delawarean who does have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act. I recently met Ray at my office where he told me about how he was diagnosed with cancer after losing his job and his health insurance. He was forced to eat into his savings to pay out of pocket for his cancer treatment until the Affordable Care Act enabled him to get covered at a reasonable rate, despite his pre-existing condition.  
Delawareans who want to get covered like Ray can get online and select a health plan through the Choose Health Delaware health insurance marketplace. Even if you have insurance through the marketplace, it's also crucial that that those who enrolled last year go online to examine whether their plan is still the best fit for them and find out if anything has changed about the financial subsidies they're eligible to receive. 

If you’d prefer to sign-up in person or over the phone, then there are marketplace guides who can help. Find out more information here (y en español también aquí).
 

    
In its first year, more than 14,000 Delawareans have signed up for a health plan that works for them. I'm thrilled that Delawareans are enrolling in plans that can help them live a healthier life and perhaps leave a little extra change in their pocket.
      
Don’t let precious time pass you by. Be sure to log on to ChooseHealthDE.com as soon as possible and get covered!
 
Dutifully Yours,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=06f97feb-4c3e-4867-9790-e738a35e2125,Four Bills to Strengthen Nation's Cyber Defenses Head to President's Desk,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Four bipartisan bills that will modernize, strengthen, and improve our nation’s cyber security defenses were approved by the House of Representatives and are now headed to President Obama’s desk. The measures, which are the results of bipartisan and bicameral compromise, are the first major cyber security bills to become law in several years. The bills reflect the work of Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.); House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss), and Subcommittee Chair Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY); and House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).
“Cybersecurity is one of our nation’s biggest challenges,” said Chairman Carper. “It is more than clear that the federal government needs to address this 21st century threat with a 21st century response. While our work in this area is far from finished, these bills are an important step in our effort to modernize our nation’s cybersecurity programs and help the public and private sectors work together to tackle cyber threats more effectively in the future. I’d like to express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Coburn and his staff for their tireless hard work on these measures. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without their dedication. I’d also like to thank our colleagues in the House – Chairmen McCaul, Issa, and Meehan, and Ranking Members Thompson, Cummings and Clarke -- for their efforts and compromise. But we cannot rest on our laurels. I will make cybersecurity a top priority for the 114th Congress and continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on a long-term solution to enhance our nation’s cybersecurity efforts.”
“Our nation faces serious cybersecurity threats. Including foreign nations and other adversaries that continue to compromise our networks and steal the America people’s sensitive information,” said Ranking Member Coburn. “These bills will help the nation address these threats. Updating the law for federal information security will ensure that agencies are accountable to Congress and the public for data breaches. Codifying the NCCIC will require DHS to improve its programs for assisting the private sector and sets the stage for future legislation to provide liability protection for sharing cyber threat information. I thank and applaud Chairman Carper for his dedication and leadership.”
Earlier today, Congress passed a bill that will codify the existing cybersecurity and communications operations center at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014 (S. 2519) calls on the Center to serve as a federal civilian information sharing interface for cybersecurity. It also authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cybersecurity information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cybersecurity. It was originally introduced as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014 by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed critical legislation that would help federal agencies thwart cyber attacks. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (S. 2521), introduced by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), would update the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 to better protect federal agencies from cyber attacks. The bill, which updates a 12-year-old law to meet the federal government’s current cybersecurity needs, establishes real-time monitoring of federal computer networks, and enhances oversight of federal data breaches, now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
In addition to FISMA, the House of Representatives passed a piece of legislation that would save taxpayers almost $80 million a year while enhancing the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to secure federal computer networks and respond to attacks. The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2013 (S. 1691) included language from Senator Carper’s DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act, which would help the Department of Homeland Security recruit and retain cyber professionals who are in high demand across the government and private sector. The approved legislation will help address critical challenges that the Department faces in hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals by providing the Secretary of Homeland Security hiring and compensation authorities for cybersecurity experts like those of the Secretary of Defense.
Finally, the House of Representatives also passed Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act (H.R. 2952) yesterday. The assessment would examine where critical cyber positions are located within the Department, the Department’s readiness and capacity to meet its cyber missions, and the types of positions. The goal of the strategy would be to enhance the readiness, capacity, training, recruitment, and retention of the cybersecurity workforce, and would include a recruitment and implementation plan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3d029a26-aa65-4c33-90e6-0d2c7d032f00,Chairman Carper Responds to Senate Passage of Critical IT Management Bill,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate approved the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), as part of the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). FITARA will improve how the federal government acquires, implements and manages its information technology investments by giving agency Chief Information Officers (CIOs) more authority over the budget, governance, and personnel processes for agency IT investments, and by improving transparency and review processes of such investments. FITARA was co-sponsored by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
As the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has repeatedly pointed out in recent years, the federal government spends approximately $80 billion annually on IT, yet those investments continue to underperform, often incurring considerable cost overruns and delays.
“FITARA is the product of meaningful bipartisan, bicameral compromise that will help reduce waste in federal spending and increase agency accountability to American taxpayers,” said Chairman Carper. “This bill will address many of the operational difficulties facing information technology management today and save money without degrading our national IT capabilities. By empowering Chief Information Officers throughout the budget, planning and spending processes, this bill enhances transparency and oversight of agency IT investments. In addition, this important bill requires federal departments to take an enterprise-wide view of IT programs and investments, and continues the promising work that has been done to right-size agency data centers. I thank the leaders of the Armed Services Committee for including this language in the National Defense Authorization Act and appreciate the hard work of Congressmen Issa, Cummings, Connolly, and Dr. Coburn to make these important reforms into law.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=77cda1f2-b927-4004-9f7d-89bde00f8ed4,"Carper, Coons, Carney Celebrate Passage of Delaware National Park Bill",2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON ­– Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congressman John Carney (all D-Del.) celebrated Congressional passage of historic legislation to authorize the creation of a national park in Delaware. The language passed today mirrored bills introduced in 2013 by Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Rep. John Carney– the First State National Historical Park Act of 2013.
The legislation authorizes the First State National Monument in Delaware to become the First State National Historical Park and expands the current First State National Monument to include park sites in all three counties of Delaware.  Similar to the national monument, the First State National Historical Park will celebrate early American Dutch, Swedish and English Settlements located throughout Delaware, and Delaware’s role in the events leading up to  the founding of our nation.
“For over a decade, I have been working with federal officials, state officials, community leaders and everyday citizens to establish a national park in Delaware,” said Sen. Carper. “Today, I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for approving this legislation. Now, Delaware can have a national park that preserves and teaches the lessons of our state’s heritage and our country’s history. I cannot wait for the day when families from all across this country and the world will plan their vacations around the First State National Historical Park to learn how Delaware helped launch the most enduring experiment in democracy that the world has ever known – the United States of America. I must also give special recognition and thanks to Senators Coons, Casey (D-Pa.) and Toomey (R-Pa.) and Representatives Carney and Meehan (R-Pa.) for their continued support and efforts during this process, as well as the many state and local government and community leaders who have worked hard to make this a reality.”
“A national park will preserve and celebrate our state’s vibrant history, while boosting Delaware’s economy and creating jobs,"" Senator Coons said. ""For more than a decade, Senator Carper has worked tirelessly to finally bring a national park to our state, and with final passage in the Senate today, he has succeeded. National parks are an important part of our national culture and heritage, and it's long past time that Delaware's rich history and resources were recognized with official national park status.”
“This is a tremendous achievement for Delaware,” said Congressman Carney. “After years and years of hard work by so many in our state, Delaware will join the ranks of nearly all other states with a National Park. I look forward to taking my family and visitors from out of state to visit the natural and historic sites in our park. And I’m gratified that our neighbors around the country will be able to enjoy the historic attractions our great state has to offer. Today’s a proud day for Delaware.”
The legislation allows the Park Service to work with other historically significant sites that are not included in the National Park, but can be included in the National Park materials, tours and other related items. Additionally, the legislation authorizes a study to assess historical significant properties that should be listed as national landmarks and be associated with the national park. The management and headquarters of the national monument willcontinue to be the same for the newly-designated national park. 
The following sites have been authorized to be included in the park:
New Castle County, DE / Delaware County, PA:
·       Woodlawn Trustees Property
New Castle County, DE:
·       The Old Sheriff's House
·       Old New Castle Courthouse
·       New Castle Green
·       Old Swedes Church National Historic Landmark
·       Fort Christina National Historic Landmark
Kent County, DE:
·       Dover Green
·       John Dickinson Plantation National Historic Landmark
Sussex County, DE:
·       Ryves Holt House
For over a decade, Senator Carper has worked with the Delaware delegation, federal officials, state officials, and community leaders to identify a theme and a park concept that fits well within our federal budget and is worthy of designation as a national park.  In January 2009, the Bush Administration finalized a National Park Service Special Resource Study concluding that a national park should be placed in Delaware and every year since Senator Carper has introduced legislation authorizing a national park.  Since 2009, there have been over a dozen public meetings on the national park effort – including legislative hearings in both chambers of Congress – which have shown overwhelming support for the national park idea.  
The Senate approved the First State National Historical Park as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. It passed the House last week. It will now go to the President for his signature.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=d5d26d17-4c33-42c6-8262-d76ba34f649a,Congress Passes Bill to Improve Chemical Security Nationwide,2014-12-11,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Today, the House of Representatives approved legislation that would take a number of steps to update and improve the government’s chemical security program. The bipartisan H.R. 4007, the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014, reauthorizes the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards Program (CFATS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and implements a series of important changes to make the program more efficient and effective.
The bill, which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law, reauthorizes the CFATS program for four years, establishes a voluntary new expedited approval procedure for site security plans for certain chemical facilities, improves aspects of information sharing with state and local officials, and enhances the Department’s ability to identify high-risk chemical facilities that otherwise go unmonitored. H.R. 4007, which passed the House with bipartisan support earlier this year, includes measures based on a substitute amendment by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The Committee held a hearing examining the program earlier this year.
“First and foremost, I thank my colleague and partner in leading the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Dr. Coburn, for his tireless efforts and leadership on this bill. This compromise would not have been possible without Dr. Coburn and the diligent work and dedication of him and his staff,” said Chairman Carper. “Chemicals – including dangerous ones – play a vitally important role in our economy and our daily lives. That’s why it is so crucial that the federal government and industry work together to ensure the security of facilities and substances that could become weapons in the hands of terrorists or others who wish to do harm. This bipartisan bill will take critically important steps and provide necessary adjustments to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards Program bolsters our national chemical security and sets out an efficient and effective path to help chemical facilities safeguard their premises and hazardous materials against the risk of a terrorist attack. It also provides much-needed certainty for both the Department of Homeland Security and the chemical industry. I commend my colleagues in the House helping take it across the finish line and to the President’s desk.”
“It is essential that we secure our chemical facilities against terrorist attack,” Ranking Member Coburn said. “For the last seven years, the Department of Homeland Security has struggled to implement a program designed to do just that — its Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. My report on CFATS earlier this year, as well as countless reports from GAO and the DHS Inspector General, revealed the CFATS program was simply not working. This bill would overhaul CFATS, adopting recommendations in past reviews and putting CFATS on track to reducing our nation’s vulnerabilities to chemical terrorism.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=f99bf807-caa4-470f-8b96-b0ef029f6e60,Chairman Carper Bids Farewell to Dr. Coburn on the Senate Floor,2014-12-11,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) took to the Senate floor to thank and bid farewell to his colleague and Ranking Member, Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).
Click here to watch the speech.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3348c913-ea22-4d16-9c7b-bb10d825c72b,Senate Approves Bill to Codify National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center,2014-12-10,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Today, the Senate approved the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014. The legislation would codify the existing cybersecurity and communications operations center at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The bill calls on the Center to serve as a federal civilian information sharing interface for cybersecurity. It also authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cybersecurity information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cybersecurity.
“Cyber security is one of the biggest national security challenges our country faces. Our laws should reflect that reality,” said Chairman Carper. “By codifying the Department of Homeland Security’s existing cybersecurity operations center, the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014 bolsters our nation’s cybersecurity while providing the Department with clear authority to more effectively carry out its mission and partner with private and public entities. It is critical that the Department continues to build strong relationships with businesses, state and local governments, and other entities across the country so that we can all be better prepared to stop cyber attacks and quickly address those intrusions that do occur. I would like to thank Dr. Coburn and his staff for their hard work on this important piece of legislation and my colleagues in the Senate for their support.”
“Cyber attacks are one of the biggest national security threats facing our nation,” said Ranking Member Coburn. “Every day, adversaries are working to penetrate our networks and steal the American people’s information at a great cost to our nation. One of the best ways that we can defend against cyber attacks is to encourage the government and private sector to work together and share information about the threats we face. By codifying DHS’s cyber security information sharing center, this bill sets the stage for future legislation for cyber security information sharing that includes liability protections for the private sector.”
S. 2519, the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014, was originally introduced as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014 by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act in June 2014.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=4fa1e0ff-2319-407a-9194-a2a875b9c696,Congress Passes Bill to Address Cyber Attacks on Federal Agencies,2014-12-10,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Today, the House of Representatives passed critical legislation that would help federal agencies thwart cyber attacks. The bill, which updates a 12-year-old law to meet the federal government’s current cybersecurity needs, establishes real-time monitoring of federal computer networks, and enhances oversight of federal data breaches, now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014, introduced by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), would update the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 to better protect federal agencies from cyber attacks. The bill would better delineate the roles and responsibilities assigned to agencies charged with securing the “.gov” domain, move agencies away from the current paperwork-heavy security review processes, and place greater management and oversight attention on data breaches at federal agencies. The bill is more than overdue: cyber attacks reported by federal agencies have increased by nearly 680 percent over the past six years, according to a recent study by the Government Accountability Office.
“Cybersecurity is one of our nation’s biggest challenges,” said Chairman Carper. “Recently, several federal agencies, from the Postal Service to the Office of Personnel Management to the State Department to the White House have been hit with serious cyber attacks.  It is more than clear that the federal government needs to address this 21st century threat with a 21st century response. This bill will modernize our outdated federal network security laws, provide the tools and authorities needed to improve security at our federal agencies, and increase transparency and accountability for data breaches at federal agencies. On top of that, it allows taxpayer dollars to be better spent on improving network security by reducing unnecessary and burdensome paper-based reporting. I commend my colleagues in the House of Representatives for voting to bring this critical bill across the finish line and to the President’s desk.”
“For too long, the federal government has struggled with poor cybersecurity practices, which puts the American people’s sensitive information at risk,” said Dr. Coburn. “This bipartisan reform bill is a small but significant step to address the problem.  It requires agencies to be accountable to Congress and the public for data breaches and other incidents to protect the public’s information.”
Today, the House of Representatives also passed the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2013, a bill that contains provisions from the DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act of 2014. The bill, which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law, helps address critical challenges that the Department of Homeland Security faces in hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals by providing the Secretary of Homeland Security hiring and compensation authorities for cybersecurity experts like those of the Secretary of Defense.
Today, the Senate unanimously passed the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014. The bill would codify the existing cybersecurity and communications operations center at the Department of Homeland Security, known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The bill authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cybersecurity information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cybersecurity.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5ce6749a-f7af-4233-920a-3a7ee2dcf810,Senate Passes Bill to Improve Chemical Security Nationwide,2014-12-10,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Today, the Senate approved legislation that would take a number of steps to update and improve the government’s chemical security program. The bipartisan H.R. 4007, the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014, reestablishes the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards Program (CFATS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and implements a series of important changes to make the program more efficient and effective.
The bill would reauthorize the CFATS program for four years, establish a voluntary new expedited approval procedure for site security plans for certain chemical facilities, improve aspects of information sharing with state and local officials, and enhance the Department’s ability to identify high-risk chemical facilities that otherwise go unmonitored. H.R. 4007, which passed the House with bipartisan support earlier this year, includes measures based on a substitute amendment by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The Committee held a hearing examining the program earlier this year.
“Chemicals – including dangerous ones - play a vitally important role in our economy and our daily lives. That’s why it is crucial that the federal government and industry work together to ensure the security of facilities and substances that could become weapons in the hands of terrorists or others who wish to do harm,” Chairman Carper said. “This bipartisan bill takes important steps and provides necessary adjustments to ensure that this program within the Department of Homeland Security sets out an efficient and effective path to help chemical facilities safeguard their premises and hazardous materials against the risk of a terrorist attack. More important, this legislation provides a longer term authorization, increasing certainty and stability for both the Department of Homeland Security and the chemical industry. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for supporting this critical piece of bipartisan legislation and I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to support its passage into law.”
“It is essential that we secure our chemical facilities against terrorist attack,” Ranking Member Coburn said. “For the last seven years, the Department of Homeland Security has struggled to implement a program designed to do just that — its Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. My report on CFATS earlier this year, as well as countless reports from GAO and the DHS Inspector General, revealed the CFATS program was simply not working. This bill would overhaul CFATS, adopting recommendations in past reviews and putting CFATS on track to reducing our nation’s vulnerabilities to chemical terrorism.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=6169297b-e877-483f-8a72-ba0699496919,"Congress Passes Legislation to Reform Border Patrol Overtime System, Enhance DHS Cyber Personnel Authorities",2014-12-10,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives approved a measure (S.1691) that would save taxpayers almost $80 million a year while enhancing the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ability to secure our borders and respond to the growing threat posed by cyber attacks. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statements highlighting the legislation’s passage.
The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2013 would dramatically simplify the current pay system for Border Patrol agents and addresses concerns raised by the Office of Special Counsel about the misuse of Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime by the agency. The bill was originally introduced by Sen. Tester and is cosponsored by Sens. McCain, Heitkamp, Cornyn, Ayotte, and Flake.
“This legislation, originally introduced by Sens. Tester and McCain, takes some commonsense steps to make some badly needed reforms to the overtime system at the Border Patrol, which is currently too complicated, too difficult to manage, and enables waste and abuse,” said Chairman Carper. “This legislation will save millions of taxpayer dollars and curb misuse of the system – all while increasing the ability of the Border Patrol’s ability to secure our borders. In fact, one estimate I have seen shows that this bill would add the equivalent of 1,500 agents to the border. That’s what I like to call a win-win. I thank my colleagues, Sens. Tester and McCain, for their hard work on this issue and I applaud the House for passing this bipartisan piece of legislation.”
Included in this measure was language from Senator Carper’s DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act, which would help the Department of Homeland Security recruit and retain cyber professionals which are in high demand across the government and private sector. Hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals is challenging for DHS due to competition for talent from both the private sector and other government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Under existing law, DOD and NSA have special personnel authorities that have enabled them to build and maintain a strong cybersecurity workforce
The approved legislation will help address critical challenges that the Department faces in hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals by providing the Secretary of Homeland Security hiring and compensation authorities for cybersecurity experts like those of the Secretary of Defense. The new tools will allow DHS to hire at the same speed and with comparable salaries to DOD. The bill would also require DHS to report annually on the progress of the program and to ensure adequate transparency and oversight of the recruitment and retention program.
“Keeping our nation safe and secure in the 21st century relies on our ability to attract and retain an innovative and dedicated workforce,” said Chairman Carper. “It is critical that the Department of Homeland Security has the authority to build a cyber workforce that can respond to the evolving cyber threats facing our nation today. This legislation will give the Secretary of Homeland Security personnel authorities that will improve its ability to compete with the private sector and other agencies to hire and retain the people it needs to combat the cyber threats our country faces. I thank my colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives for supporting this bipartisan bill that will help the Department better secure our nation from the evolving cyber threat.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/featured-items?ContentRecord_id=e7bbf658-1951-4a47-8cef-3c086db1b246,Sen. Carper Re-enrolled in the Health Care Marketplace. Have You?,2014-12-09,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 15, 2014

Dear Friends,
Starting today, Delawareans can enroll or re-enroll in a health plan through the Choose Health Delaware health insurance marketplace. It is the second year of the marketplace and it's critical that you get covered now if you haven't already.
 
For too long, Americans have spent more on health care than any other nation and worse yet did not always get better results. As a key piece of the Affordable Care Act, the health insurance marketplace provides a gateway to more affordable and higher quality health coverage by increasing consumer choice in health care options. 
 
In its first year, more than 14,000 Delawareans have used Choose Health Delaware to find a health plan that works for them. I'm proud that Delawareans are enrolling in plans that can help them live a healthier life, perhaps leave a little extra change in their pocket and help to bring down the long-terms costs for our country in this sector, which has long been a drag on the American economy. 
 
I urge Delawareans without insurance to protect themselves and their loved ones by choosing a health care plan for the coming year through the marketplace at ChooseHealthDE.com. It's also crucial that that those who enrolled last year go online to examine whether their plan is still the best fit for them and find out if anything has changed about the tax subsidies they're eligible to receive. 
 
Don’t have access to a computer? You can also call any of Delaware’s own “Marketplace Guides,” who can walk you through the process of choosing and enrolling in the best healthcare plan for you.
   



Counties
Organization
Languages
Phone 


New Castle
Brandywine Women's Health Associates
English, Spanish
302-658-8545


New Castle
Christiana Care
English, Spanish
302-320-6586


New Castle
Westside Family Healthcare
English, Spanish
302-472-8655


Kent, Sussex
Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, Inc.
English, Spanish
302-365-8270


Kent, Sussex
Westside Family Healthcare
English, Spanish, Haitain Creole
302-678-2205



 
The deadline for open enrollment is February 15, 2015; if you want to get coverage by January be sure to enroll by December 15. But don’t let precious time pass you by. Be sure to log on to ChooseHealthDE.com as soon as possible.
 
Here's to your health,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=27791239-67a9-467f-a2b3-446196e8a927,Chairman Carper Responds to Record Low Federal Employee Morale,2014-12-09,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) reacted to the annual ""Best Places to Work in the Federal Government"" rankings released by the Partnership for Public Service. Each year, the Partnership for Public Service releases federal agency rankings based on surveys conducted by hundreds of thousands of federal workers. This year, the report shows that employee morale across the board has dropped to its lowest point since the organization started conducting the survey.
Chairman Carper: “This Partnership for Public Service report confirms the hard reality that federal employee morale continues to drop and is now at the lowest point since we began keeping track 11 years ago. We know all too well that far too many federal workers are feeling demeaned, unappreciated, and under siege in the workplace today. Year after year, these public servants are used as political targets or to prove a political point. On top of the attacks, the sheer dysfunction of Congress makes a challenging work environment even worse. Federal employees are the first to suffer from Congressional gridlock, short-sighted budget cuts, and government shutdowns. Along with the instability of politics, federal workers feel the impact from our nation’s fiscal challenges and are increasingly charged to get better results with fewer dollars. Compounding the lack of morale is what I call ‘Executive Branch Swiss Cheese’ – too many branch positions are left vacant under the Senate’s watch. Permanent leadership is key to the success of any agency and without it, results and morale suffer. While our Committee has worked hard to fill key leadership vacancies in our jurisdiction, the Senate must do a better job confirming strong and steady leadership for our federal agencies in a timely manner.
 
“While the report shows that a number of agencies have improved morale since last year, I was disheartened to see that employee morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains the lowest among major federal agencies. The Department still lacks a strong sense of cohesion and a sense of team. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with the DHS Employee Engagement Steering Committee to learn more about what Department leadership is doing to improve morale. I am encouraged by the steps Secretary Johnson, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas, and other top managers at the Department are taking to make DHS a better place to work for current and future employees. I am hopeful this effort will soon yield results. But Congress too has a responsibility to help morale. That includes providing the large and complex agency with full fiscal year funding, the clearer authorities it needs to more effectively carry out its missions, and a work environment at a consolidated headquarters that will improve coordination and communication across the various components.
 
“In order to have a government that works well and sees results, we need good people. That’s why it’s so important that we work together across party lines to the make the federal government a better place to work. Today, President Obama announced a few new initiatives dedicated to supporting the professional development of public servants and finding ways to improve the recruitment, retention, and assignments of our senior executives. The Administration will also put together a program to properly recognize outstanding federal employees and the hard work they do to serve the people of this country. Like turning an aircraft carrier, improving morale at our federal agencies will take time. Some issues may be easy to address, while others may be more deeply rooted. But in order to right this ship, Congress, the Administration, and the public need to work together.”
Earlier today, President Obama announced three initiatives to recognize outstanding federal service and provide additional opportunities for federal employees:
•  White House Leadership Development Program for Future Senior Career Executives.
•  White House Advisory Group on Senior Executive Service (SES) Reform.
•  Customer Service Awards Program.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=485c5771-01f7-48e7-aa0a-2b00fe499e65,Chairman Carper Highlights GAO Report on Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act Implementation,2014-12-09,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Today, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) highlighted a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that examined the implementation of the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA) within 24 federal agencies. The report, Improper Payments: Inspector General Reporting of Agency Compliance under the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA), found that while agencies have made significant progress since IPERA’s passage in 2010, more can be done to ensure effective implementation.
“Today’s GAO report is a reminder that Congress has more work ahead to ensure that taxpayer funds are spent wisely, and waste and fraud is eliminated,"" said Chairman Carper. “The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA) requires agency officials to sharpen their pencils and do a better job keeping track of the taxpayer dollars that we entrust to them. I am pleased that a majority of federal agencies have successfully implemented key aspects of the law. However, this report shows that there is more room for improvement.  Cleary, federal agencies have a number of tools at their disposal to identify, reduce and recover improper payments, but they need to use those tools properly in order to achieve results.”
The GAO rated each federal agency based on their execution of a series of seven criteria outlined by IPERA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These implementation steps range from an estimate of the amount of improper payments to establishment of mechanisms for recovery and prevention of improper payments. Overall, the report found that most agencies had made significant improvements in reporting their improper payments and taking action to curb them. For example, 22 agencies reported on their efforts to recover overpayments in FY 2013, compared to only 15 agencies in FY 2011. However, the GAO report also detailed key shortcomings, particularly in lowering improper payments error rates. The report also showed the important role of Congress to ensure that agencies have the legal authority and resources to lower improper payment levels.
“This report shows that Congress still has an important opportunity to work on a bipartisan basis in order to curb billions of dollars in waste and fraud,” Chairman Carper continued. “For example, Congress has yet to pass into law the Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancements Act (IPACE), a commonsense bill to stop improper payments to people who are deceased.  I hope that my colleagues in the House of Representatives will work with me to take up this bill and other important legislation aimed at reducing government waste.”
In 2010, Senators Carper, Susan Collins (R-Maine) and a bipartisan group of colleagues introduced the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA), which was designed to save taxpayers money by reducing unnecessary payments throughout the federal government. The measure, signed into law by President Obama in 2010, requires all federal agencies to adopt a robust process to identify and recover improper payments made to federal contractors. In 2012, Congress enacted and the President signed the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act, which further strengthened the rules requiring federal agencies' to curb improper payments and mandated the establishment of a government-wide ""Do Not Pay List"".",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=8e78931f-36f1-451e-8dc5-b4e0915c106a,Senate Approves Bill to Address Cyber Attacks on Federal Agencies,2014-12-09,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Last evening, the Senate approved critical legislation that would help federal agencies thwart cyber attacks.
The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014, introduced by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), would update the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 to better protect federal agencies from cyber attacks.  The bill would better delineate the roles and responsibilities assigned to agencies charged with securing the “.gov” domain, move agencies away from the current paperwork-heavy security review processes, and put greater management and oversight attention on data breaches at federal agencies. The bill is more than overdue: cyber attacks reported by federal agencies have increased by nearly 680 percent over the past six years, according to a recent study by the Government Accountability Office. 
“Cybersecurity is one of our nation’s biggest challenges,” said Chairman Carper. “Recently, several federal agencies, from the Postal Service to the Office of Personnel Management to the State Department to the White House have been hit with serious cyber attacks.  It is more than clear that the federal government needs to address this 21st century threat with a 21st century response. This bill will modernize our outdated federal network security laws, provide the tools and authorities needed to improve security at our federal agencies, and increase transparency and accountability for data breaches at federal agencies. On top of that, it allows taxpayer dollars to be better spent on improving network security by reducing unnecessary and burdensome paper-based reporting.  But Senate passage of this bill only gets us part of the way there. We now need our colleagues in the House to bring this critical bill across the finish line and to the President’s desk. With the clock ticking on the 113th Congress, we can’t afford to wait. Our nation’s cybersecurity is counting on it.”
“For too long, the federal government has struggled with poor cybersecurity practices, which puts the American people’s sensitive information at risk,” said Dr. Coburn.  “This bipartisan reform bill is a small but significant step to address the problem.  It requires agencies to be accountable to Congress and the public for data breaches and other incidents to protect the public’s information.”
In September, the Senate passed the DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act of 2014, which would help address critical challenges that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces in hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals by providing the Secretary of Homeland Security hiring and compensation authorities for cybersecurity experts like those of the Secretary of Defense.
In June, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014. The bill would codify the existing cybersecurity and communications operations center at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The bill authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cybersecurity information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cybersecurity.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=b380fb11-1959-4a88-a78b-61140b2c1205,Carper Joins EPA to Announce Clean Air Technology Upgrades to Cape May-Lewes Ferry,2014-12-08,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"LEWES, Del. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del) joined officials from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency to announce a $975,000 Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant to the Delaware River and Bay Authority that will help bring new clean air technology to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and reduce toxic air emissions. Sen. Carper has been a champion for clean air and co-authored the Diesel Emission Reduction Act, which the president signed into law in 2011.
“For every $1 invested through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, we get over $13 in health and economic benefits in return,” Sen. Carper said. “The good thing about diesel engines is that they last a long time, and the bad thing about diesel engines is that they last a long time. Retrofitting or replacing older diesel engines can dramatically reduce harmful emissions but, despite the long-term economic benefits of these upgrades, there are few direct and immediate economic incentives. Programs like the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act help encourage critical investment in updating our diesel fleets so they are cleaner and friendlier for our environment. The changes made to these ferry engines will be a breath of fresh air for the folks that live here in Lewes and in New Jersey.”
The grant will support repowering the propulsion engines in the ferry boat M/V Delaware with EPA certified engines that are anticipated to annually reduce fuel use by 39,600 gallons and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 443 tons.  In addition, the upgrade will reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 39.7 tons and particulate matter (PM) emissions by nearly half a ton. 
The year-round Cape May-Lewes Ferry service is a critical part of the Mid-Atlantic regional transportation infrastructure, carrying about 800,000 passengers and 300,000 vehicles annually on a 14-mile route between Lewes, Del. and Cape May, N.J.  For more than 40 years, the ferry has offered customers economical and efficient transportation. DERA funds are used to clean up the legacy fleet of diesel engines that were produced before more recent environmental standards. The DERA grant program is intended to help solve some complex air quality issues in port communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=fc3d54bc-76d3-4f0d-b31b-b5818676b39b,Today Is Delaware Day,2014-12-07,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 7, 2014
Dear Fellow Delawarean,
On December 7, 1787, Delaware’s elected delegates gathered at the Golden Fleece Tavern in Dover and unanimously voted to become the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Now, I like to imagine Delaware’s Founding Fathers enjoying some hot chocolate on that chilly day, but, whatever beverage it was, they made the right decision! More than 200 years later, our nation still enjoys the freedoms granted by that historic document. And our state enjoys that unique place in American history as “The First State” — something no other state can claim. On Delaware Day, we not only honor this special day for our state, but we also pause to honor the fallen heroes of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Today, Delaware remains at the forefront of American ingenuity and progress. The success of Delaware’s economy can be traced back centuries to the early gunpowder factories of Irenee DuPont to the Fortune 500 companies that light up Wilmington’s skyline today. Delaware’s a great place for small businesses and startups, too, and we haven’t forgotten our agricultural roots. Delaware farmers are internationally renowned for their high quality corn, apples, and poultry.
 This week, I was able to take part in a special event showcasing some of the best food and beverages Delaware has to offer at the 4th annual “Taste of Delaware” reception in Washington, DC. The event was made possible thanks to the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and my friend and fellow Delawarean, Senator Chris Coons. Each year more and more folks come out and rave about Delaware. It fills me with a lot of state pride, and I hope today you’re feeling similar pride in our state’s past, present, and future.
So on this Delaware Day, let us remember Delaware’s Founding Fathers and cheers our hot chocolate to the First State and the United States that followed!
Cheers,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=8686ce45-3781-4a51-9cf6-68151c00b12f,Chairman Carper Statement on the Nomination of Ashton Carter to be Secretary of the Department of Defense,2014-12-05,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement reacting to the announcement by President Obama on the nomination of Ashton Carter to be Secretary of the Department of Defense. Chairman Carper: “The president has asked Dr. Ashton Carter to take on a difficult and demanding job. Fortunately for our nation, he has accepted this challenge. The Secretary of Defense has a long list of complex, yet critical responsibilities, from ably navigating the details of the colossal defense budget to maintaining troop readiness and preparation. As the department’s former deputy secretary under Secretary Panetta, Dr. Carter already knows the ins and outs of the agency. He has extensive leadership experience in management and acquisition within the Department of Defense, and his ability to scrutinize the defense budget will be a critical asset to curbing financial waste, fraud and abuse within the department. I hope he continues the important progress made by his predecessors to strengthen the department’s financial management efforts. Along with his extensive public service experience, Dr. Carter is a top-level expert in defense, intelligence and international security policy, with decades of experience in academia and the private sector. His experience and insight will be a critical asset as we continue our campaign to defeat ISIS and other Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria, as well as other adversaries abroad and in cyberspace. Given the myriad challenges facing the department and the nation today, at home and abroad, it is critical that the Department of Defense has an effective leader in place who can hit the ground running. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to move forward with considering Dr. Carter’s nomination as soon as possible.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=356893fe-13e0-476b-8f5e-4ce7ad76b4c1,"Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Coburn Highlight New Agency Rules to Curb Medicare Waste, Fraud, and Abuse",2014-12-04,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced new rules that will enhance oversight on Medicare in an effort to curb waste, fraud and abuse. The announcement comes after Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) wrote a letter to CMS urging stronger action to screen and remove Medicare providers who are convicted of felonies that should result in exclusion from the program. Today’s new rules, which mirror measures previously introduced by the Senators, would address the concerns raised in their letter.
“This announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) demonstrates that officials are taking important steps to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare,” said Chairman Carper. “Millions of Americans rely on Medicare for quality health care. But every year, this vital program loses billions of taxpayer dollars to errors and criminal activity. These new authorities will allow CMS to stop wasteful and fraudulent payments before they are made and help preserve the program for years to come. I commend CMS for taking action and for its renewed commitment to curb waste, fraud and abuse. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate and the Administration to fortify the integrity of our Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
“CMS has taken another positive step forward in better protecting the Medicare program from providers and suppliers who are abusing the system,” said Ranking Member Coburn. “Deadbeat doctors and felons should have no place in treating beneficiaries or receiving federal payments.  It is my hope CMS continues to identify and implement commonsense tools to shore up the integrity and service of Medicare.”
According to CMS, the new authorities will:
 
Deny enrollment to providers, suppliers and owners affiliated with any entity that has unpaid Medicare debt. This will prevent people and entities that have incurred substantial Medicare debts from exiting the program and then attempting to re-enroll as a new business to avoid repayment of the outstanding Medicare debt.
Deny or revoke the enrollment of a provider or supplier if a managing employee has been convicted of a felony offense that CMS determines to be detrimental to Medicare beneficiaries. The recently implemented background checks will provide CMS with more information about felony convictions for high-risk providers or suppliers.
Revoke enrollment of providers and suppliers engaging in abuse of billing privileges by demonstrating a pattern or practice of billing for services that do not meet Medicare requirements.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=490ee0b1-0f98-4e35-afce-47c737949911,Delaware's Congressional Delegation Announces USDA Grant to Colonial School District to connect local students and farmers,2014-12-04,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WILMINGTON, Del. — Today, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper, Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney (all D-Del.) announced that Colonial School District has been awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant to help students connect with local farms and ensure that they have access to healthy foods. 
Colonial School District will receive $100,000 to partner with Historic Penn Farm in New Castle.  Students at William Penn High School will have access to the farmland, and will participate in the entire process of planning, growing, and processing foods.  That food will reach approximately 10,000 students in Colonial School District through its breakfast and lunch programs. 
“Teaching students hands-on skills when it comes to growing and preparing healthy food is a skill that will serve them well over a lifetime,” said Sen. Carper. “It was not that long ago that I toured William Penn and got a chance to see its first-class culinary program. With the addition of this federal grant to help the farm to school table program, it will be even better, serving healthy food choices to nearly 10,000 students. This is a great use of federal dollars and a program I am happy to support.”
“Learning by doing is one of the great pleasures in education,” said Sen. Coons. “Making sure to eat healthy meals every day is challenging and this grant will help students make healthier choices by building nutritional learning into their education. William Penn High School students will gain the hands on experience of not just growing crops, but the experience of planning, growing and processing foods, creating new menus, and placing healthy foods directly into school nutrition programs throughout the district.”
“Colonial School District has put together a very innovative plan that teaches students important lessons in agriculture and business,” said Congressman Carney.  “This partnership with Penn Farm gives students more access to fresh, healthy food, teaches them where that food comes from, and supports the local agriculture industry.  I can’t wait to visit and try some of it myself.” 
Dr. Dusty Blakey, Colonial School District Superintendent, added, “This is a great opportunity to promote career readiness to our students, connecting our Agriculture and Culinary Arts degree programs with our own District Division of Nutrition to promote nutrition in our schools – a true farm to school to table program. In short, William Penn High School will plan, operate and grow crops, bring to our culinary students for food preparation, and sell to our school cafeterias. This grant represents the true food cycle, connecting agriculture to business, all while promoting healthy living styles.”
Colonial School District’s proposal was one of 82 projects selected spanning 42 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  According to the USDA, school districts participating in farm to school programs purchased and served over $385 million in local food in school year 2011-2012.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=85eb06ac-9a8c-41af-8d62-6578a8708571,"Sen. Carper Hails Report on Wind Power Potential, Calls for Extension of Tax Credits",2014-12-04,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), member of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, hailed a new report released by Environment America, More Wind, Less Warming, that underscores the potential wind energy holds in America as a clean, domestic energy source. Sen. Carper also called for a meaningful extension of the tax credits that are crucial to the wind energy industry’s future.
“The latest report on wind power from Environment America reminds us of the great potential offshore wind has to protect our environment, grow our economy and bolster our energy security,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said. “If we are serious about tapping this clean, domestic form of energy, we must foster investment by the energy companies looking to harness it. The best way to do this is by extending the investment and production tax credits, but the extension must be long enough for companies to seize on the incentive – especially for new start-up industries like offshore wind.  This report reflects what I have been saying for years: our nation’s fledgling offshore wind industry needs certainty beyond a year to make the investments necessary to build and operate the wind turbines off our shores.  As Congress amends our tax code now and into the future, I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on providing long-term tax certainty for the first investors of offshore wind energy.”
In 2013, Sen. Carper, who is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee, was joined by Susan Collins (R-Maine) to introduce the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act, which would provide a long-term extension of the investment tax credit for the first 3,000MW of offshore wind generated in this country. Sen. Carper offered this same text as an amendment earlier this year along with Sens. Collins, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
Among other findings, Environment America’s report reveals that expanding wind power across the country could cut as much global warming pollution as 254 coal plants produce in a year and if wind power kept its recent pace of development, it could supply 30 percent of the nation’s electricity needs by 2030, providing more than enough carbon reductions to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan, and a third of the reductions the U.S. committed to achieving in its agreement with China.
Environment America is the national federation of statewide, citizen-funded advocacy organizations working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=ca4e1fd5-ee9c-4f09-8758-f4cb64935a94,Carper Statement on House Passage of Measure to Protect the Delaware Air National Guard,2014-12-04,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved language that allows the Delaware Air National Guard and Reserve’s C-130s to be modernized to be compliant with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) requirements in the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“I’m very pleased that the House has passed legislation that will put the Delaware Air National Guard on a path toward the modernization of C-130 aircrafts in a more cost-effective and efficient way. While no legislation is perfect, this agreement reflects years of hard work and bipartisan compromise that will allow the Air Force to upgrade its badly outdated fleet while saving taxpayer dollars. Just as important, it will allow the Delaware Air National Guard to continue its critical flying mission. In an era of shrinking budgets, we need to figure out how to do more with less without sacrificing results. This compromise does just that. I thank the leaders of the Armed Services Committee for including this language in the National Defense Authorization Act and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to pass this critical bill.”
The Guard’s fleet of more than 180 C-130H aircraft will require avionics upgrades in order to comply with FAA mandates by 2020. The language included in the NDAA will give the Air Force the option to modernize the planes cost effectively, instead of replacing them with newer models. This could help protect the Delaware National Guard’s flying mission and the jobs that go along with it. The Senate is expected to approve the legislation before adjourning.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=e232d480-c051-43a0-af7e-557dce292c74,"Sen. Carper Hails Report on Wind Power Potential, Calls for Extension of Tax Credits",2014-12-04,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), member of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, hailed a new report released by Environment America, More Wind, Less Warming, that underscores the potential wind energy holds in America as a clean, domestic energy source. Sen. Carper also called for a meaningful extension of the tax credits that are crucial to the wind energy industry’s future.
“The latest report on wind power from Environment America reminds us of the great potential offshore wind has to protect our environment, grow our economy and bolster our energy security,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said. “If we are serious about tapping this clean, domestic form of energy, we must foster investment by the energy companies looking to harness it. The best way to do this is by extending the investment and production tax credits, but the extension must be long enough for companies to seize on the incentive – especially for new start-up industries like offshore wind.  This report reflects what I have been saying for years: our nation’s fledgling offshore wind industry needs certainty beyond a year to make the investments necessary to build and operate the wind turbines off our shores.  As Congress amends our tax code now and into the future, I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on providing long-term tax certainty for the first investors of offshore wind energy.” 
In 2013, Sen. Carper, who is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee, was joined by Susan Collins (R-Maine) to introduce the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act, which would provide a long-term extension of the investment tax credit for the first 3,000MW of offshore wind generated in this country. Sen. Carper offered this same text as an amendment earlier this year along with Sens. Collins, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
Among other findings, Environment America’s report reveals that expanding wind power across the country could cut as much global warming pollution as 254 coal plants produce in a year and if wind power kept its recent pace of development, it could supply 30 percent of the nation’s electricity needs by 2030, providing more than enough carbon reductions to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan, and a third of the reductions the U.S. committed to achieving in its agreement with China.
Environment America is the national federation of statewide, citizen-funded advocacy organizations working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=ffdd29d1-872f-4247-b6c9-15ffdfb6e75a,Chairman Carper Responds to New Administration Strategy to Improve Federal Contracting and Cut Costs,2014-12-04,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding an executive memorandum that lays out a strategy for improving performance and innovation in federal contracts while driving down costs. You can read more about the Office of Federal Procurement Policy memo, “Transforming the Marketplace: Simplifying Procurement to Improve Performance, Drive Innovation and Increase Savings,” here.
“While the federal government has made important progress in reducing costly contracts over the past several years, there is broad consensus that there’s more we can do to cut costs and get better results,” Chairman Carper said. “The strategy laid out by the Administration today shows a commitment to reducing wasteful duplication in government contracts and to providing contract officers with the information they need to negotiate the best deals possible. It also takes a fresh look at outdated rules that may stifle competition and innovation by implementing a 180-day review period for current policies and practices.
“I look forward to learning more about the strategy, including new approaches to acquisition workforce training and the management of relations between vendors and government,” Chairman Carper continued. “While the Administration has taken an important step today, it can’t transform the government’s procurement process on its own. As we look toward the 114th Congress, I plan to work with my colleagues and the Administration to explore possible legislative changes that may be needed to help enhance and move this initiative forward. At the same time, I expect the Administration to keep Congress apprised of goals, metrics for success, and outcomes for the American taxpayer.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=160cc4ef-7aae-4e99-9535-fbdd66bd3b86,"Sen. Carper Praises Reps. Petri and Blumenauer for Bipartisan Gas Tax Proposal, Calls for Congress to Act",2014-12-03,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the Environment & Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement after Congressman Tom Petri (R-Wis.) joined Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s (D-Ore.) “Update, Promote and Develop America’s Transportation Essentials (UPDATE) Act” to restore the purchasing power of the gas tax.
“I’m glad to see that Congressman Tom Petri has joined Congressman Earl Blumenauer in endorsing the idea of gradually restoring the purchasing power of the federal gas tax to ensure that we can continue to maintain and invest in our nation’s roads, bridges, and transit systems. As a governor I saw firsthand how user fees, like the gas tax, are the most efficient and fairest way to pay for infrastructure investments. Both Congressman Petri and Congressman Blumenauer are leaders who carry clout on this issue, in particular, and I hope that their voices, along with the chorus of diverse groups calling for passing and funding a long-term transportation bill will get us that much closer to action in Congress.”
“Over the past few months, there has been a groundswell of support from people of all political stripes for a long-term funding solution for our nation’s infrastructure needs, including from key stakeholder groups and editorial boards. The time to act is now, but unfortunately this session is shaping up to be the lamest of lame ducks and I’m concerned Congress won’t do its job. If that proves true, then this is will be a huge missed opportunity to responsibly address our growing transportation funding crisis.
“Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the year, I am not giving up on solving this problem, and neither is the growing coalition of supporters across the country. If we fall short in getting a long-term highway transportation bill done in this Congress, the progress we’ve made in building a strong coalition and making the argument to the American people that we have to increase the gas tax to fund our infrastructure needs will be the foundation for success in the next Congress.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=43ee73b8-fd54-469e-b35d-305630b1be19,HEARING STATEMENT: NRC's Implementation of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendations and other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety,2014-12-03,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, released the following statement regarding the committee’s hearing on “NRC’s Implementation of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendations and other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety.”
“Thank you Chairman Boxer for this hearing.  I want to welcome back the commissioners from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to the committee and welcome the witnesses on the second panel.
“I believe this is Chairman Macfarlane’s last time to appear before our committee.  Before I get started, I want to thank you for your service and wish you luck on your new endeavors.
“For our country to meet its climate and clean air goals – we must have nuclear in the energy mix for the foreseeable future. For our country to have nuclear energy, we must continue to have a safe nuclear industry in the United States and around the world.
“Fortunately, the NRC is considered the gold standard when it comes to nuclear safety regulatory agencies.  As a result, we have some of the safest nuclear plants in the world.
“However, with nuclear safety we can never rest on our laurels. Science and technology are constantly evolving – and in response the NRC must adapt to ensure the public continues to be protected. That is especially true when it comes to incorporating lessons learned from the accident in Fukushima into our safety regulations.
“I believe the NRC is up to the challenge. 
“I look forward to hearing how the NRC is updating our nuclear safety regulations to reflect the insight gained through the accident at Fukushima and the many other challenges the commission faces on a day-to-day basis.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=a3afe38a-95d8-4cf5-b056-ecda49a91bea,FITARA Included in NDAA Bill,2014-12-03,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – The Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), co-sponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Representatives Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) will be included in the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). FITARA would improve how the federal government acquires, implements and manages its information technology investments by giving agency Chief Information Officers (CIOs) more authority over the budget, governance, and personnel processes for agency Information Technology investments, and by improving transparency and review processes of agency IT investments.
As the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has repeatedly pointed out in recent years, the federal government spends approximately $80 billion annually on IT, yet those investments continue to underperform, often incurring considerable cost overruns and delays.
House and Senate leaders made the following statements on the bill’s inclusion into the NDAA:
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Carper: “FITARA is the product of meaningful bipartisan compromise that will help address many of the operational difficulties facing federal IT management today. This piece of legislation empowers agency Chief Information Officers throughout the budget, planning and spending processes, enhances transparency and oversight of agency IT investments, requires federal departments to take an enterprise-wide view of IT programs and investments, and continues the promising work that has been done to right-size agency data centers. These new authorities would transform federal agencies’ ability to reduce waste and increase agency accountability to American taxpayers. I thank the leaders of the Armed Services Committee for including this language in the National Defense Authorization Act and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this critical bill.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman Issa: “Each year, the federal government spends $80 billion on federal IT systems, yet much of that is wasted on cost overruns, long delays and outdated programs. By giving decision makers the ability to make changes appropriate for their agency, we can ensure that the most knowledgeable will now be able to enact solutions that had otherwise plagued their agencies. As technology changes, Chief Information Officers were previously prevented from adopting new technologies, and often the American taxpayer missed out on more cost effective options. FITARA fixes this crisis of leadership and ensures that the contracting standard is modernized to handle a changed tech landscape.”
House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Cummings: “This bipartisan legislation will bring much-needed changes to federal information technology purchasing.  Enhanced Chief Information Officer authority over agency IT budgets and greater accountability of individual projects will be critical tools to help agencies spend Americans’ tax dollars more effectively.”
House Oversight Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Affairs Ranking Member Connolly: “In the 21st century, effective governance is inextricably linked with how well government leverages technology to serve its citizens,” said Connolly, Ranking Member of the Government Operations Subcommittee. “Yet the federal government remains hamstrung by antiquated laws and bureaucratic cultures that stifle innovation and lead to mission-critical IT failures that waste taxpayer dollars and jeopardize our Nation’s safety, security, and economy. FITARA will be a critical first step towards ending this unacceptable status quo by empowering agency CIOs to champion best practices in IT management, accelerating data center optimization efforts, and prioritizing incremental development for major IT systems.”  
FITARA would build on the statutory framework established by the seminal Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 by enhancing agency CIOs’ authorities and strengthening key initiatives proposed in the Administration’s 25 Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management.
 
CIO Authority Enhancements - Give civilian agency CIOs more authority over the budget, governance and personnel processes for agency IT investments.  One central CIO in each agency shall approve the appointment of any other component-level CIOs within the agency.  This, along with the corresponding empowerment of the CIO in the Department of Defense, would significantly enhance CIO's role throughout the government.
 
 
Transparency & Risk Management - Make agency IT investments more transparent to the public and require agencies to review troubled investments.
 
 
Government-wide Software Purchasing - Require development of an enhanced government-wide software purchasing program that agencies may use to lower acquisition and management costs.
 
 
Portfolio Review - Require agencies to annually review all of their IT investments to eliminate duplication and waste.  For example, in fiscal year 2011 budget submissions, agencies reported 622 separate investments totaling $2.4 billion in human resource management systems, and 580 investments totaling $2.7 billion in financial management systems.
 
 
Data Center Consolidation - Require more than 9,000 federal data centers to be consolidated and optimized to achieve greatest usage, efficiency and cost savings as recommended by GAO.
 
 
Acquisition Workforce - Develop an IT acquisition cadre, including highly-skilled program and project managers.
 
 
Strategic Sourcing - Require proper consideration of the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) by contracting personnel to encourage the government to purchase through enterprise-wide contracts that leverage the purchasing power of the entire federal government.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=8c9d258d-0747-4843-97b9-ec74a8c3963a,Sen. Carper Statement on Super Pollutants Act of 2014,2014-12-02,2014,2014-12,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement on the Environment and Public Works Committee’s consideration of the Super Pollutants Act of 2014, a bipartisan piece of legislation co-sponsored by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
“I would like to thank Senators Murphy and Collins for their legislation that addresses so-called short-lived climate pollutants.  I’ve been working across the aisle for years to address many of these pollutants, championing legislation like the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). This bipartisan proposal builds on that work to curb pollutants that contribute to climate change and I welcome this important effort.
“Pollutants such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and black carbon are called short-lived climate pollutants because they don’t stay in the air for a long time, but the damage they can do to our health and to our climate can be long lasting. Reducing these harmful pollutants is a win-win-win – we lessen the threats posed by climate change; we improve public health; and we create well-paying American jobs responsible for the retrofitting that can have the greatest impact in curbing these emissions.
“The Murphy-Collins legislation is an important next step to building on the work we’ve done here at home – through programs like DERA – and globally to reduce short-term climate pollutants.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=fa86c5aa-e2bb-47fb-892d-3b29cb5710ab,Giving Thanks by Giving Back,2014-11-26,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 26, 2014
Dear Friends,
This week we take a break from our busy lives to give thanks. Sure, there is also a lot offood, football and shopping mixed in, but it shouldn’t mask the day’s true meaning.
While many of us have a feast waiting for us at home, there are thousands of Delawareans and millions of Americans who do not have enough food to put on the table. As we gather with our loved ones and count our blessings, one of the best ways we can give thanks for our good fortune is to give back.

Each year, I head down to the Emmanuel Dining Room in Wilmington and join former Governor and Congressman Mike Castle to make sure our neighbors are able to enjoy a hot and delicious Thanksgiving meal. This tradition is my way of keeping in touch with what I believe to be the spirit of this holiday. 
 
This Thanksgiving, let’s embrace that spirit of gratitude and reflect on the blessings in our lives that we are most thankful for. Better yet, let’s do something good to ensure that our friends and neighbors have something to be thankful for as well.
Wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=372eeaeb-947f-43b7-8d4f-acd64f48f16d,Carper Applauds Historic New Ozone Pollution Standards to Protect Public Health,2014-11-26,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"“Today’s announcement is purely a statement of fact – to protect our health, we need less ozone pollution in the air,” Senator says
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it will implement stricter standards to curb ozone pollution that poses a serious threat to public health and has been linked to asthma, heart disease and premature death. The Senator has been a long time champion of efforts to reduce dangerous emissions that contribute to ozone pollution.
“As a parent, I’ve spent a lot of time worrying about my own children’s health, but as a U.S. Senator, I worry about every child’s health. That’s why I’ve worked so hard with my colleagues – Democrats and Republicans alike – to make sure that all our children have clean air that's safe to breathe. We have made remarkable progress in cleaning up harmful air pollution, but – if truth be told – we still have a long way to go in many parts of America.
“As medical science evolves, so too does our understanding of ‘healthy air.’ For decades, we have known that ozone pollution caused by dirty power plants, automobiles, and other sources is linked to serious health problems like asthma, strokes, heart attacks, and even early deaths. We have also known that ozone pollution is especially dangerous for our children. Parents who have watched their kids with asthma suffer on high ozone days know this better than anyone. Our understanding of the extent to which ozone pollution in the air makes us sick, however, has changed over the years as our research has become more advanced.
“Through the Clean Air Act, Congress required the EPA to base air quality and public health standards on the best science available and to review these benchmarks every five years. After reviewing more than a thousand scientific studies, the EPA announced today that our current ozone health standards are too weak and no longer adequately protect our health. Despite what many may say, today’s announcement is purely a statement of fact – to protect our health, we need less ozone pollution. I urge the EPA’s Administrator to move quickly to finalize plans for the new ozone air quality standards so our nation can finally move forward in making the pollution reductions we need to achieve cleaner, healthier air.”  
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=17a01227-3f02-4f80-b5f8-32e5e649f341,"Sens. Carper, Coons support DOD plan to better protect military families from abusive financial practices",2014-11-25,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons today joined a group of 40 Senate colleagues in supporting the Department of Defense’s (DOD) plan to update the Military Lending Act (MLA) and close existing loopholes in order to better protect soldiers and their families from abusive financial practices. The letter, sent to U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, expresses strong support for the proposed new rule to help prevent lenders from charging excessive fees and taking advantage of military families. U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led the letter.

Following a 2006 Pentagon report that found that “predatory lending undermines military readiness, harms the morale of troops and their families, and adds to the cost of fielding an all-volunteer fighting force,” Congress passed the MLA. This law capped the annual interest rates for consumer credit to service members and their dependents at 36 percent while giving DOD the authority to define what loans should be covered. The DOD’s 2007 implementing regulations narrowly included only three types of loans: (1) payday loans: closed-end loans with terms of 91 days or fewer, for $2,000 or less; (2) auto title loans: closed-end loans with terms of 181 days or fewer; and (3) refund anticipation loans: closed-end credit.
In the proposed changes to the MLA, first announced in September, DOD seeks to close existing loopholes in the current MLA rule. Today’s letter voices strong support for the proposed rule, arguing that the changes strike a better balance between protecting service members and their families while maintaining access to good credit. 
“As our service members are asked to take on even more tasks in defense of our nation, we should take every opportunity to protect them and their families here at home, especially from unscrupulous lenders,” the senators wrote. “We strongly support the proposed MLA rule and urge that the final MLA rule be similarly robust in enhancing protections for service members and their families, producing significant cost savings for DOD, and improving military readiness.”
In addition to Sens. Carper and Coons, Sens. Reed and Durbin were joined by Senators Mark Udall (D-CO), Levin (D-MI), Brown (D-OH), Hirono (D-HI), Manchin (D-WV), Warner (D-VA), Franken (D-MN), Baldwin (D-WI), Nelson (D-FL), Murphy (D-CT), Blumenthal (D-CT), Merkley (D-OR), Heinrich (D-NM), Warren (D-MA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Murray (D-WA), Whitehouse (D-RI), King (I-ME), Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Udall (D-NM), Kaine (D-VA), McCaskill (D-MO), Shaheen (D-NH), Schatz (D-HI), Markey (D-MA), Bennet (D-CO), Donnelly (D-IN), Feinstein (D-CA), Cardin (D-MD), Wyden (D-OR), Heitkamp (D-ND), Tester (D-MT), Boxer (D-CA), Hagan (D-NC), Harkin (D-IA), and Schumer (D-NY) in signing onto the letter.  The signatories include every Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The comment period, which was recently extended, for the proposed rule ends on December 26, 2014.
The full text of the letter follows:
The Honorable Chuck Hagel
Secretary
U.S. Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1000
Re: Limitations on Terms of Consumer Credit Extended to Service members and Dependents
Docket ID: DoD-2013-OS-0133
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are writing in response to the Department of Defense (DOD) proposal to update the implementing rules for the Military Lending Act (MLA).
By enacting the MLA as part of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, Congress sent a clear bipartisan message that protecting service members and their families from predatory and high cost lending was of paramount importance to their financial security and military readiness.
This concern was reiterated in the Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which stated that “the conferees are concerned that the Department must remain vigilant to eliminate continuing, evolving predatory lending practices targeting service members and their families, and believe the Department should review its regulations implementing section 987, to address changes in the industry and the evolution of lending products offered since 2007, continuing use of predatory marketing practices, and other abuses identified by consumer protection advocates, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs.”
As a result of this required review of the current MLA rule, DOD in its proposal now recommends closing existing MLA loopholes. We believe this strikes a significantly better balance than the current MLA rule between protecting service members and their families on the one hand and maintaining access to non-predatory credit on the other. As such, this proposal also does a much better job of reflecting Congressional intent. 
Specifically, we support the proposal to expand the MLA’s “definition of ‘consumer credit’ to cover a broader range of closed-end and open-end credit products.” In so doing, the rule proposes that these products be treated in a manner generally consistent with the decades-old requirements of the Truth in Lending Act. 
This comprehensive approach is essential to preventing future evasions. As DOD notes in its proposed rule, “the extremely narrow definition of ‘consumer credit’ permits creditors to structure credit products in order to reduce or avoid altogether the obligations of the MLA.” For example, MLA protections currently can be avoided by simply adding a day to the term of a payday loan or by lending just one additional cent so that the payday loan no longer qualifies as “consumer credit” subject to the MLA protections.   
Contrary to Congressional intent, these evasions threaten military readiness. According to DOD, “each separation of a service member is estimated to cost the Department $57,333, and the Department estimates that each year approximately 4,703 to 7,957 service members are involuntarily separated due to financial distress.” In addition to the estimated cost savings DOD has identified, we give great weight and deference to DOD’s statement that the proposed MLA rule “would reduce non-quantifiable costs associated with financial strains on service members. High-cost debt can detract from mission focus, reduce productivity, and require the attention of supervisors and commanders.” As a result, we strongly agree with DOD’s view that the proposed MLA rule not only has the potential to produce substantial cost savings, but also enhance military readiness.
In August of last year, a number of us wrote, “service members and their families deserve the strongest possible protections and swift action to ensure that all forms of credit offered to members of our armed forces are safe and sound.” Indeed, as our service members are asked to take on even more tasks in defense of our nation, we should take every opportunity to protect them and their families here at home, especially from unscrupulous lenders. 
For all these reasons, we strongly support the proposed MLA rule and urge that the final MLA rule be similarly robust in enhancing protections for service members and their families, producing significant cost savings for DOD, and improving military readiness.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=ed0649b3-62fe-4a2e-9043-de3865860bde,Carper Initiative Giving Consumers More Information About Food Choices Enacted,2014-11-25,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement applauding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for finalizing menu-labeling requirements mandated by a bipartisan provision he co-authored in the Affordable Care Act. The new regulations will require chain restaurants, similar retail food establishments, and vending machines with 20 or more locations to provide consumers with nutritional and caloric information about the foods they sell.
“Our country is facing an obesity epidemic that adversely affects the quality of life of millions Americans and puts a tremendous strain on our health care system. That's why l worked closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the Affordable Care Act included this provision to give consumers the tools they need to make smarter and healthier food choices at many of the places they dine outside of their homes. Requiring chain restaurants and vending machines to list nutritional information is by no means a cure-all, but it is a long-awaited and positive step forward in establishing a national standard for nutritional information disclosure. I commend the Administration for finalizing these rules and I will continue to look for common sense ways to empower Americans to make more informed and hopefully healthier food and lifestyle choices.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=af8be2b7-6189-478e-9f9f-ebc313529ab8,Chairman Carper Statement on Resignation of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel,2014-11-24,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement reacting to the resignation of U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
“From his time as an enlisted man in the Vietnam War to his pragmatic days in the Senate, Secretary Hagel has shown himself to be a courageous leader who is ready and willing to put his country above all else. I appreciate his leadership at the Department of Defense during this challenging period abroad and at home. I commend his stewardship of the defense budget, maintaining troop readiness and preparation despite sequestration and ongoing fiscal uncertainty. I particularly appreciated Secretary Hagel’s efforts to strengthen the department's financial management – a critical step toward curbing waste and fraud. I hope his successor continues to makes this issue a top priority. Finally, I thank him for his leadership and dedication to combating the murderous and ruthless group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Given the myriad challenges our nation faces abroad, especially as we continue our campaign to defeat ISIS and other Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria, it is critical that we have Senate confirmed leadership in place at the Department of Defense. I urge the president to nominate a new secretary as soon as possible.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=f7b20975-f6fc-454d-bb41-795dddbbe832,How ready are we for a public health threat?,2014-11-22,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends,
Since February, the public has watched the countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and now Mali struggle with a deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus. There are more than 15,000 confirmed cases of Ebola so far in these countries. To date, roughly 5,800 people in West Africa are believed to have died from the virus, including two here in the United States. The severity and scale of this outbreak has challenged the world public health community. In light of what they have seen and read in the news, many Americans and Delawareans have asked an important question: how prepared is our nation to handle a major public health threat?
On Nov. 19, the committee I chair – the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – tried to answer that question by examining our nation’s response to the ongoing Ebola epidemic and our overall preparedness for other public health threats. The goal of the hearing was to identify lessons learned from our Ebola response and to use those lessons to inform our future response to this disease and others that could threaten our country.

Click to watch the hearing, ""Preparedness and Response to Public Health Threats: How Ready Are We?"" 
As we learned from our panel of experts, we must have a well-coordinated response at the federal, state and local levels. The Centers for Disease Control and other public health officials must establish clear guidance and protocols so that everyone – from health professionals and first responders to school teachers and moms and dads – knows exactly what to do and what not to do. We must also ensure that our state and local health and emergency response professionals have the training and tools they need to succeed, and also to protect themselves. It’s also essential to have a strong screening process in place at our airports and borders so we can better identify and monitor high-risk travelers. Just as important, we must guarantee the availability of vaccines and other medicines that can treat this virus. 
At the hearing, I was also heartened to learn about the dedication and courageous acts of the health care professionals and others that are tackling this deadly disease at home and abroad. These brave men and women are truly looking out for the “least of these” and are to be commended for their work. 
Whether it’s the Ebola virus, influenza, or a disease we have yet to hear about, the bottom line is the same: we need to be prepared and ready to respond. Our witnesses made it clear that the steps we are taking now to curb the Ebola epidemic here at home and abroad are showing positive results, and should be applied to combat all public health threats. In other words, we are figuring out what works and trying to do more of it – one of my keys to success for any mission.
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/otherstatements?ContentRecord_id=1e9602a3-c56b-463b-a457-621e0833b01e,Opening Statement of Chairman Tom Carper: Preparedness and Response to Public Health Threats: How Ready Are We?,2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) convened the hearing, “Preparedness and Response to Public Health Threats: How Ready Are We?” For more information on the hearing or to watch a webcast of the hearing, please click here.
Chairman Carper’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, follows:
Today, we will examine our nation’s response to the ongoing Ebola epidemic and our overall preparedness for other public health threats.  We are very fortunate to have a great panel of witnesses with us today and I would like to thank all of them for their public service.
Since February, the public has watched an epidemic of the Ebola virus grip the countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and now Mali. To date, roughly 5,200 people in west Africa are believed to have died from the Ebola virus.  The actual number of deaths may be significantly higher.
The severity and scale of this outbreak has challenged the world-wide public health community.
When I think about the tragedy that is playing out in west Africa and what role we should play, I am reminded of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where we learn that we should ‘Love our neighbors as ourselves.’ 
If we don’t take care of our neighbors in Africa, then we may see this deadly disease spread even faster across the world.  That is why I believe it is vital that we – along with our international partners – continue to battle Ebola at its epicenter. 
Ebola, however – like all infectious diseases – knows no borders.  It has even reached our shores. Over the weekend, the United States began treating its tenth patient for Ebola, who sadly passed away on Monday.  His death marks the second Ebola-related death here at home. 
In light of the Ebola virus epidemic, many Americans have asked the important question:  how prepared is our nation to handle a major public health threat? That’s what we hope to answer at today’s hearing. 
Our goal for this hearing is not to create needless confusion.  Doing that would be counterproductive, potentially putting more people at risk and exacerbating the public’s understandable fear of the disease. Instead, I hope we are able to find lessons learned from our Ebola response, and use them to inform our future response to this disease and others that could threaten our country.
While I know the disease is far from being defeated and has even, as I mentioned earlier, spread to Mali, it’s my understanding the number of cases in Liberia has substantially declined.  This is welcome news.  However, I know we could see a spike in cases with little notice.  As a result, we must continue to pay close attention to the changing dynamics in Africa. And we must continually reassess the scale of the response needed overseas and here in the United States to end this epidemic.
Whether it’s the Ebola virus, influenza, or a disease we have yet to hear about, the bottom line is the same:  we need to be better prepared and ready to respond. To be most effective, we of course must have a well-coordinated response at the Federal, State and local levels. 
We must also have clear guidance and protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and other public health officials so that everyone knows exactly what to do and what not to do. We must also ensure that our state and local health and emergency response professionals have the training and tools they need to succeed. Finally, we must have a strong screening process in place at our ports of entry so we can better identify and monitor high-risk travelers.
I also believe that a critical part of addressing any public health threat is the availability of antivirals, therapeutics and other medical countermeasures. In the case of Ebola, I have been encouraged by the significant progress we have made in the last few months on a vaccine for the virus, as well as therapeutics to treat the disease.  I look forward to hearing about the status of these countermeasures and the plan for quickly getting them to people in need.
To help meet the immediate and long term needs of the Ebola epidemic, President Obama recently submitted an emergency funding request of nearly $6.2 billion dollars. I look forward to hearing more about the request, particularly in light of the changing situation on the ground in Africa. 
As we discuss the funding request, I believe we should keep in mind our moral obligation to help “the least of these” in society, and doing so in an effective and fiscally responsible way.  In closing, I would just like to acknowledge the work of our witnesses and the countless first responder and health professionals who have stepped up to fight this most recent challenge, and  all public health threats. I also want to recognize and thank the non-governmental organizations who are so critical in this world-wide effort to stem the epidemic of Ebola.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141206035625/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/statement-from-senator-coons-on-the-presidents-executive-actions-on-immigration,Statement from Senator Coons on the President’s executive actions on immigration,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, November 20, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Statement from Senator Coons on the President’s executive actions on immigration 
					
					
					
					WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement Thursday on President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
""Immigration is one of the most pressing issues we face. The work I did last year alongside Democrats and Republicans in the Senate produced a bipartisan bill that offered a clear path that would improve border security, grow our economy, keep families together, and address our humanitarian values. Although it passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support, House Republicans have refused to allow a vote or offer a comparable alternative for nearly 18 months.
“America’s immigration system has been broken for too long.  President Obama’s executive actions will address some of our system’s problems and start to move us in the right direction by focusing law enforcement resources on deporting dangerous criminals rather than on breaking up loving families. They will protect American workers by moving us away from a status quo where undocumented men and women accept substandard pay and worker protections. Crucially, in a time of scarce resources, the President’s actions will ensure taxpayer dollars are spent where they can be most effective, including on enhancements to border security.
“We cannot continue to wait for House Republicans to act while some of our most pressing challenges go unmet. Although I wish it were not necessary, the President is acting within his legal authority. It is my hope that in the new Congress, House Republicans will come to the table to finish this crucial work.”
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                Border",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141206035633/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/statement-from-senator-coons-on-nuclear-negotiations-with-iran,Statement from Senator Coons on nuclear negotiations with Iran,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, November 20, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Statement from Senator Coons on nuclear negotiations with Iran 
					
					
					
					WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday on negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear program:
""With the security of the United States, Israel, and our allies on the line in the P5+1 negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, I believe that no deal is better than a bad deal. In any agreement, Iran must fully submit to intrusive inspections of its illicit nuclear program, fully disclose its past military work, and dismantle any capacity to develop and build a nuclear weapon in the future. If Iran and the P5+1 reach a comprehensive agreement, it must definitively close all pathways toward an Iranian nuclear weapon. Congress must be closely consulted on a potential accord and should one be reached, any sanctions relief should only be granted as Iran demonstrates full compliance, with hesitation or backsliding met with swiftly reinstated sanctions. We cannot be afraid to walk away from the bargaining table if Iran does not agree to these basic terms. 
""Congress has enacted and the Administration has effectively implemented biting sanctions and sustained diplomatic efforts that ultimately brought Iran to the negotiating table. I am ready to support the Administration's efforts to conclude a strong deal that guarantees our security and the region's, but we must remain firm on what it will take to achieve that goal.”
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                Sanctions",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=fde8bafb-76ea-47cc-9759-f57e0e576828,Chairman Carper Statement on President's Executive Action on Immigration,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – This evening, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following reaction to President Obama’s executive action on immigration:
“American voters sent Congress a clear message on Election Day: They want us to grow the economy, cut the deficit, and work together.
“A year and a half ago, the Senate overwhelmingly approved bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would modernize our broken immigration system, strengthen our borders and ports of entry, and enhance our national security in a manner that is practical, tough, and fair. While it isn’t perfect, the Senate’s bill, which I championed, is a significant improvement over the status quo. It also does what the voters told Congress to do: it grows our Gross Domestic Product by as much as five percent over the next 20 years and reduces our budget deficit by nearly a trillion dollars over the next 20 years.
“Unfortunately, the House of Representatives did not follow the Senate’s lead and has left this critical issue unresolved for 17 months. Even more disappointing, the leadership in the House has stated over and over again that they will not act on the Senate bill.
“The President is rightly frustrated that Congress has failed to send him comprehensive immigration reform legislation he can sign into law.  In fact, the House has failed to debate immigration reform at all, or offer any alternatives of its own to the work the Senate has done.  Their inaction on such an important issue is inexcusable, and I share the President’s frustration. Given Congress’ inability to act, it is understandable for the President to examine ways the Administration can legally address the current needs of our country and the realities of the estimated 11 million undocumented people living in the shadows.
“But let me be clear: this executive action is not the final word on this issue.  It is just a temporary Band-Aid that does not fully or permanently address the deep-rooted problems with our current immigration system, or the violence and lack of economic opportunity in Central America that led to a humanitarian crisis on our southern border this past summer.
“While I support the President’s goals in the executive action, my first, second, and third choice is to have a permanent, bipartisan solution to our broken immigration system. It is crucial that Congressional leadership, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, and the Administration put politics aside and work together to pass a sensible, comprehensive, and permanent solution that addresses the underlying root causes of unauthorized immigration, and modernizes our immigration laws to enhance our national and economic security as soon as possible.
“I hope that bipartisanship and action on other critical issues that must be resolved before the end of the year do not suffer as a result of this announcement’s timing. It would be irresponsible for members of Congress to use the Administration’s action as an excuse to thwart progress on other important matters in the weeks ahead. We still have important work to accomplish in the lame duck – from funding the day-to-day operations of our government to strengthening our nation’s cyber defenses to confirming critical nominations to reforming the U.S. Postal Service. I am hopeful that our Republican colleagues will continue to work with Democrats to address these critical issues for our nation before the end of the year.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5a3ecbdd-7398-4905-b28a-97ec1bfec230,Chairman Carper Commends DHS on Clean Financial Audit,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) commended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following its announcement that it has obtained a clean financial audit for the second year in a row:
“This announcement is welcome news of progress and demonstrated sustainment for the Department of Homeland Security, and illustrates that the Department is taking important, consistent steps toward strong stewardship of taxpayer funds,” said Chairman Carper. “Producing a clean financial audit is certainly no small or easy task for any agency, let alone one of the Department of Homeland Security’s size and complexity. I commend the Department and its leadership for its commitment to financial management.”
In 2012, Chairman Carper joined Senators Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Ron Johnson (R- Wisc.) in seeing passage into law of the DHS Audit Requirement Target (DART) Act, which requires DHS to obtain and pass full audits for its financial statements. By continuing to earn this clean bill of financial health from an independent auditor, DHS continues to be in compliance with this law. The Department of Defense is the only large federal department that is unable to conduct a financial audit.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141121210259/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/senate-to-vote-on-historic-bill-to-ban-bulk-data-collection,Senate to vote on historic bill to ban bulk data collection,2014-11-17,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 17, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Senate to vote on historic bill to ban bulk data collection 
					
					 Senator Coons helped introduce the USA Freedom Act to end the government’s dragnet collection of phone records 
					
					
					
					WASHINGTON – The Senate will take a procedural vote Tuesday on bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to restore Americans’ privacy rights by ending the government’s dragnet collection of phone records. The bill also requires greater oversight, transparency, and accountability with respect to domestic surveillance authorities.  
“Americans expect and deserve a government that can keep our nation safe without compromising our privacy,” Senator Coons said. “The government’s warrantless surveillance program represents an unacceptable and unjustifiable violation of Americans’ privacy rights that cannot be allowed to continue. The bipartisan USA FREEDOM Act would end the bulk collection of Americans’ phone records and other data and reintroduce transparency and accountability into government surveillance activities. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join me in passing these important reforms and restoring protections for Americans’ privacy.”
The Senate will vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2685, the USA FREEDOM Act, on Tuesday evening. If it earns 60 votes, the Senate could vote on final passage of the bill as early as Thursday. 
The USA FREEDOM Act bans bulk collection under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and other surveillance authorities, requires the government to narrow the scope of a search to a clearly defined “specific selection term,” adds needed transparency and reporting requirements, and provides key reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court. The New York Times wrote in July that, “the bill represents a breakthrough in the struggle against the growth of government surveillance power.”
The legislation provides significant reforms of surveillance authorities, while carefully maintaining the role of law enforcement and intelligence agencies and their responsibility to protect national security.
An outline of the USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 can be found here, and text of legislation can be found online. A list of supporters of the legislation can also be found online.
In August 2013, Senator Coons cosponsored the FISA Court Reform Act of 2013, which would create an Office of the Special Advocate tasked with advocating in the FISA courts’ closed proceedings for legal interpretations that minimize the scope of intrusion into Americans’ privacy. He also cosponsored the FISA Accountability and Privacy Protection Act of 2013 to require the government to be more transparent in how it publicly reports on its surveillance activities. Read more about them here: http://1.usa.gov/1j8UJ1L
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                USA FREEDOM Act",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=c88f51dd-ffc2-4a2d-a097-729e0811c8ee,Choosing Better Health Care for Delaware,2014-11-15,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 15, 2014

Dear Friends,
Starting today, Delawareans can enroll or re-enroll in a health plan through the Choose Health Delaware health insurance marketplace. It is the second year of the marketplace and it's critical that you get covered now if you haven't already.
 
For too long, Americans have spent more on health care than any other nation and worse yet did not always get better results. As a key piece of the Affordable Care Act, the health insurance marketplace provides a gateway to more affordable and higher quality health coverage by increasing consumer choice in health care options. 
 
In its first year, more than 14,000 Delawareans have used Choose Health Delaware to find a health plan that works for them. I'm proud that Delawareans are enrolling in plans that can help them live a healthier life, perhaps leave a little extra change in their pocket and help to bring down the long-terms costs for our country in this sector, which has long been a drag on the American economy. 
 
I urge Delawareans without insurance to protect themselves and their loved ones by choosing a health care plan for the coming year through the marketplace at ChooseHealthDE.com. It's also crucial that that those who enrolled last year go online to examine whether their plan is still the best fit for them and find out if anything has changed about the tax subsidies they're eligible to receive. 
 
Don’t have access to a computer? You can also call any of Delaware’s own “Marketplace Guides,” who can walk you through the process of choosing and enrolling in the best healthcare plan for you.
   



Counties
Organization
Languages
Phone 


New Castle
Brandywine Women's Health Associates
English, Spanish
302-658-8545


New Castle
Christiana Care
English, Spanish
302-320-6586


New Castle
Westside Family Healthcare
English, Spanish
302-472-8655


Kent, Sussex
Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, Inc.
English, Spanish
302-365-8270


Kent, Sussex
Westside Family Healthcare
English, Spanish, Haitain Creole
302-678-2205



 
The deadline for open enrollment is February 15, 2015; if you want to get coverage by January be sure to enroll by December 15. But don’t let precious time pass you by. Be sure to log on to ChooseHealthDE.com as soon as possible.
 
Here's to your health,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/otherstatements?ContentRecord_id=85fcb7d1-f44e-4bbb-a8bd-c80273a71051,Chairman Carper Urges Senate to Move Forward on Critical Nominations,2014-11-13,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support the critical nominations approved by the committee and waiting for consideration on the full Senate floor. His statement, as prepared for delivery, follows:
“Mr. President— I rise today to discuss a number of nominations that have been considered and approved by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and urge the Senate to swiftly confirm them before we adjourn for the year. 
“I have spoken repeatedly about the large and very troubling backlog of nominations in the Senate.  It is every Senator’s constitutional role to provide advice and consent on the President’s nominations in a thorough and timely manner as part of the Senate’s confirmation process. We do our country no service – and ourselves no honor – when we leave key institutions without proper leadership and leave honorable men and women willing to serve in government twisting in the wind.
“During my time as Chairman of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, I’ve made it one of my top priorities to work closely with our Ranking Republican, Tom Coburn, to consider and move the President’s nominees as quickly as possible.  We’ve had a tremendous amount of success.  Majority Leader Reid, Senator McConnell, and their staffs have been valuable partners in this effort.
“Just yesterday, our Committee reported out three more outstanding nominees – Sarah Saldaña to be head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security, Russell Deyo to be the top management official at the Department, and Mickey Barnett to serve another term on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors. 
“I believe Ms. Saldaña and Mr. Deyo will almost certainly be confirmed in short order.  I urge my colleagues to review their qualifications and work with me to fill these two vacancies at the Department of Homeland Security in the coming days.
“I’d like to spend some time on the floor today discussing Mr. Barnett’s nomination, and those of several other lower-profile nominees that we urgently need to confirm as soon as we can. Mr. Barnett is among a group of five bipartisan nominees to the Postal Board of Governors – two Republicans and three Democrats.  If we don’t confirm Mr. Barnett and his colleagues by December 8th, Mr. Barnett – currently the Board’s chairman – would be forced the leave the Board. If that happens, the Board will no longer have enough members to achieve a quorum and won’t be able to conduct business.  At a time when the Postal Service is struggling to address a number of financial challenges and to adapt to the digital age, this would be an avoidable disaster.
“Today, because of our inability here in Congress to come to consensus on postal reform legislation, the Postal Service is just twisting in the wind, able to do only so much to address the financial challenges it faces and transform itself for the digital age.  Customers are left with uncertainty, then, about what the future holds for the Postal Service.  We would make that uncertainty even worse if December 8th comes and goes and our five Postal Board nominees are still waiting for us to act.
“The same goes for our nominees to fill vacancies on the Postal Regulatory Commission, Nanci Langley and Tony Hammond.  They’ve been waiting since the spring of 2013 to be confirmed, and the Commission has been working with only three commissioners as a result. 
“Also pending before the Senate are two nominations to the D.C. Superior Court: Judge William Nooter and Judge Steven Wellner.  These are both qualified nominees who, like the Homeland Security and postal nominees I’ve discussed, won bipartisan support in Committee and are needed to fill vacancies on the District of Columbia’s busy trial court. Judge Nooter and Judge Wellner were reported out by our committee with unanimous, bipartisan support months ago. In Judge Nooter’s case, more than a year ago.
“As I’ve discussed, these men are not alone in waiting so long for confirmation.  But the problem is particularly unfair when it comes to the District of Columbia court system. Earlier this fall, during the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on D.C. Statehood, the current vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court were included as one of the many injustices the District faces simply because it serves as the nation’s capital. The District of Columbia already suffers from not having control over its own laws or local tax dollars. The citizens of this city should not also have to face a compromised legal system as well. While we in Congress may not be able to fix everything, I do think this is one of the few issues that we can and must address now.
“The D.C. Superior Court is a local court that hears primarily local matters.  Most nominees are entirely uncontroversial and used to go through the Senate without a recorded floor vote. But because these local judges go through Senate confirmation, they have been caught up in the broader politics and stalemate of the Senate floor.  No other local or state jurisdiction must have its non-federal judges approved by Congress. And no other state or locality is without a vote in the Senate to help push for action on nominations of concern to that community.
“The D.C. Superior Court is operated by the federal government and its judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 15 year terms. It is important to note that, although this court is operated by the federal government, it is separate from the federal government.  Instead, the Superior Court is the local trial court for the District of Columbia and handles matters such as local crimes, and domestic and civil disputes. Nevertheless, because this Court is operated by the federal government, the President nominates candidates for judicial vacancies from a slate prepared by a non-partisan nomination commission, and the Senate must confirm the nominees.
“Currently, there are four vacancies on the Superior Court; due to planned retirement and medical leave, this number will rise by the end of this year.  These vacancies hinder the Superior Court’s ability to administer justice for D.C. residents. Superior Court judges already carry heavy caseloads. The existing vacancies, the majority of which are in the family court division, threaten to undermine the Judges’ ability to give proper attention to each case, including those cases in family court that affect the welfare of children.
“Recently, the Chief Judge of the Superior Court and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia have sent myself and both Senate leaders a letter raising these concerns and ultimately seeking a Senate vote on Judges Nooter and Wellner.
“Judge Nooter is currently the Presiding Magistrate Judge on the Superior Court and has served as a Magistrate Judge for the past 14 years. As Presiding Magistrate Judge, he manages 23 fellow magistrate judges and serves on the Leadership Team of the Chief Judge of the Superior Court. Judge Wellner currently serves as an Administrative Law Judge for the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. Since 2011, he has led the Unemployment Insurance Division, by all accounts skillfully coordinating a team of ten Administrative Law Judges and support staff to adjudicate over 3,000 unemployment insurance cases per year.
“Mr. President, given the caliber of these nominees, the lack of controversy over their nominations, and the bi-partisan support received, I urge this body to move their confirmations forward as soon as possible.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=30a8cef2-ea28-42d6-89ad-d337ed565d65,Congress Passes Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Unused and Outdated Government Reports,2014-11-13,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON -- Today, a bipartisan group of Senators highlighted the passage of common-sense legislation to modify or eliminate more than 50 unnecessary, duplicative, or outdated reports and notification requirements produced by federal agencies and departments, that are required by law to be submitted to Congress.
The Government Reports Elimination Act of 2014 (H.R. 4194) was reported out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in July 2014 with a substitute amendment sponsored by Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), and Federal and Contracting Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). The measure eliminates or modifies 51 Congressionally mandated reports. Eliminating these reporting requirements will free up resources so that agencies can better focus on accomplishing their missions. H.R. 4194 was introduced in the House by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Okla.) in March 2014. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.).
“This common-sense, bipartisan bill carries on the past good work of our Committee in finding ways to increase efficiency in the federal government and save taxpayer dollars,” Chairman Carper said. “This bill follows up on the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010, which I introduced with Sens. Warner and Akaka, by ensuring that agencies are not spending resources and taxpayer dollars producing reports that are submitted to Congress and not used. Those of us in Congress have a responsibility to be judicious stewards of the resources taxpayers invest in federal programs, and ensure those resources are managed honestly, transparently and effectively. This bill helps us do just that. I’d like to thank Sens. Coburn, McCaskill, and Warner, and Chairman Darrell Issa for their leadership on this effort.”
“Cutting government reports that no one reads is a no-brainer,” Ranking Member Coburn said. “Congressman Issa and his staff deserve credit for their hard work over a year preparing this list of unread reports. I hope that the Administration and the incoming Congress use this effort as a model for working together not just to eliminate reports, but to eliminate unnecessary and duplicative programs.”
“This is another step toward a commonsense goal,” Senator McCaskill said. “Once we get this bill across the finish line, I hope Americans gain a little more confidence in government knowing that Congress took action to trim fat from the federal government by reducing the tax dollars spent on costly and unnecessary reports.”
The legislation, now pending a signature by the President, would reduce the amount of reports mandated by Congress for the following federal agencies:
 
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Corporation for Community Service
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Executive Office of the President
Government Accountability Office
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Interior
Department of Labor
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Department of State
Department of Transportation
Department of Treasury
Department of Veterans Affairs",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=9de6f428-0fba-41ec-a1a9-a6a0e762c0e1,Congress Passes Historic Bipartisan Legislation to Streamline Federal Records Reporting,2014-11-13,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Today, a bipartisan group of members of Congress highlighted the passage of legislation that modernizes the Federal Records Act and clarifies how former Presidents’ records are to be released to the public. H.R. 1233 would amend the Presidential Records Act of 1978 to establish a process by which incumbent and former Presidents can review Presidential records to determine whether to assert that executive privilege limits the release of those records. H.R. 1233 would also make a number of reforms to the Federal Records Act to modernize federal recordkeeping statutes and additional changes to improve the federal government’s ability to capture and archive electronic records.
H.R. 1233, the Presidential and Federal Records Act was introduced by House Government Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and passed both the Senate and the House with an amendment authored by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The bill now goes to the President’s desk for his signature.
Senator Carper, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: “Congress passed the Presidential Records Act to ensure that Americans have unfettered access to presidents’ files and records and to help preserve our nation’s history. This bipartisan legislation updates the law and creates a more transparent and timely process for the release of these important historical records. I commend my colleagues in Congress for passing this common-sense legislation.”
Representative Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: “Time and again, oversight investigations have uncovered a troubling practice – officials and bureaucrats using personal email accounts to conduct official business. This bill takes an important first step to address this misuse of resources that puts sensitive data at risk and dodges transparency laws. This legislation creates a new dynamic: federal employees must disclose official business conducted on non-official accounts or they will face repercussions.”
Representative Elijah Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: “I introduced this legislation to give the American people access to the records presidents create while they are in office, which is an important step forward in protecting our historical record. I appreciate the bipartisan support of this bill – which has passed the House and Senate with no opposition – and look forward to the President signing it into law.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=14a9b038-f47a-41f5-9b18-2250e54358c5,"Committee Approves Critical Leadership for Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors",2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved three critical nominations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors. The three nominees were ordered reported favorably en bloc by vote.
Sarah Saldaña is the nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Saldaña has been a United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas since 2011; prior to that position, she was the Deputy Criminal Chief for the Fraud and Public Corruption section within the same office.
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been without a presidentially appointed leader for 16 months - that is far too long, particularly considering the challenges we face along our borders,” said Chairman Carper. “Sarah Saldaña will provide the leadership our country needs in this critically important and particularly challenging position. Ms. Saldaña is a respected member of the law enforcement community who comes highly recommended, with bipartisan support. Thankfully, Ms. Saldaña has graciously stepped up to the plate to assume this demanding appointment. I urge my colleagues to act swiftly and approve her nomination.”
Russell Deyo is the nominee for Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Deyo retired from Johnson & Johnson in 2012 after 27 years of service, during which he held a number of positions, including Vice President, General Counsel, and member of the Executive Committee.
“Given the challenges associated with fusing 22 separate agencies into one cohesive department, the Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security is an enormously important position,” said Chairman Carper. “Russell Deyo has extensive management experience and will enable the Department to continue making progress in challenging areas. Mr. Deyo’s perspective from the private sector will be an important asset to Secretary Johnson as he works to unify the Department and continue its critical mission. I believe the Department and the American people have a lot to gain from Mr. Deyo and I urge my colleagues to support his nomination to this important role.”
Mickey Barnett is the nominee to be a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors. Mr. Barnett was first appointed to the USPS Board of Governors in 2006 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.
“Mickey Barnett’s nomination comes at a very challenging time for the Postal Service,” said Chairman Carper, “but in adversity lies opportunity. Mr. Barnett knows that Americans want a Postal Service they can rely on, one that will take full advantage of the countless opportunities that lie ahead. I am confident that, if confirmed, Mr. Barnett will continue to work diligently with the other members of the Board as they work towards a brighter future for the Postal Service. Congress holds the keys to the Postal Service’s future, but the Board of Governors serve a vital role in setting the direction of this large organization – I urge my colleagues in the full Senate to support Mr. Barnett’s continued service on the Board.”
All three nominations now move to the Senate floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=25c8db73-1d54-43a5-a87f-da82a88d7b4d,Senator Carper Applauds U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change and Clean Energy Cooperation,2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Yesterday, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced new targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions for the United States and China – which account for more than one third of global greenhouse gas emissions.  President Obama said the United States would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.  At the same time, the Chinese government said it would increase domestic clean energy production by 20 percent by 2030 and achieve peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 or earlier.  This announcement was made almost one year before the global community is scheduled to meet in Paris to negotiate a new global climate agreement. Sen. Carper issued the following statement in reaction to the agreement.    
“I congratulate President Obama, Secretary Kerry and the rest of the State Department for negotiating this historic agreement with China. Together, the United States and China produce more than one-third of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions, so this agreement is significant progress for those of us who have long been advocates for trying to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Even more significant, China has long refused to commit to any greenhouse gas targets, a fact that has stymied our efforts in Congress and around the globe to bring both the developing and developed world together to address this serious problem. I am hopeful this announcement will help drive the international community toward a broader global agreement in Paris next year, so that we can finally turn the corner on addressing climate change.   
“Since coming to the Senate, I have been a strong supporter of climate change legislation. But with Congress refusing to act, I fully support this administration’s efforts to reduce our carbon footprint through common-sense regulations, such as those attempting to make our automobile fleet more efficient and our power plants less polluting. Like President Obama, I see the effort to curb carbon emissions and climate change as a great opportunity for our economy, not a burden. This announcement is yet another example that when the United States takes a leadership role in addressing our greatest global environmental challenges – other countries will follow.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=a8fc66ed-8d19-4ab7-a156-0a0faaede0c2,"Return Day: Celebrating ""The Delaware Way""",2014-11-07,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 7, 2014
Dear Friends,
Since its founding in 1791, Delaware has practiced a culture of civility that has taken hold throughout our villages, towns, cities and government. Each year, thousands of Delawareans gather in Georgetown on the Thursday after Election Day for Return Day – a 223-year-old political tradition that is unique to the First State. On Return Day, Delawareans put aside our differences and recommit to the common goal of building a better Delaware for generations to come. Some refer to this display of civility as the “The Delaware Way,” and it echoes the First State’s strong sense of community, carrying with it a message of unity for mutual progress.
This Return Day, I realized our nation has a lot to learn – and even more to gain – by working together in The Delaware Way. When the 113th Congress returns to Washington next week, I urge my colleagues to embrace the same core value of togetherness that we Delawareans embody back home. Republican or Democrat or Independent – we must renew our shared commitment to moving our nation forward. 
Dutifully Yours,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=e09a1ebb-faf1-4178-bb05-7b440de2ee12,"New Report Shows DHS Progress on Fusion Centers, Calls for Additional Improvements",2014-11-06,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – A new report finds that the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies are supporting critical information sharing operations but some are struggling to properly track funding. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) highlighted the findings of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which called for continued support for federal fusion centers but called for the Department and its components to establish better guidance for operations and personnel. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.), and Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX-10) were also co-requesters of the report.
Fusion centers are run by state and local agencies that partner with the federal government to provide resources, expertise, and information to the center with the goal of maximizing their ability to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity. The GAO report found that fusion centers averaged a score of 92 out of 100 in a 2013 assessment, indicating that policies and procedures are in place to implement key information sharing activities. The report also found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – the lead DHS agency responsible for grant funding – had problems with reporting the amount of federal grants used to support these centers, leading to about $60 million inaccurately categorized. FEMA is currently developing guidance to help grantees better categorize fusion center projects and improve the reliability of grant reporting.
Senator Carper, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: “As GAO explains, fusion centers play a key role in sharing threat information among all levels of government and the private sector. That’s why I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has developed programs to better assess fusion center capabilities and address their gaps. I am also encouraged to see that fusion centers are performing well on their assessments. However, it is clear that there is still work to be done. The Department must get a program off the ground to better test and evaluate fusion centers’ performance so that we can see how effective they would be in the event of an emergency. It also needs to put into place a better method of tracking funding so we can better assess how much the federal government spends to keep these critical centers operational without wasting taxpayer dollars.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=70bbd7a5-c54e-46a7-90d2-fa1e044cf7b6,New Report Finds Serious Inefficiencies in Federal Homeless Assistance Program,2014-11-04,2014,2014-11,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – A federal program meant to help homeless assistance providers is inefficient and flawed, wasting time and resources for both the federal government and the groups it is designed to help, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, highlighted GAO’s findings that the federal government has evaluated more than 40,000 federal properties for use by homeless assistance providers, but has only transferred 122 properties to homeless groups in 27 years and underscored GAO’s recommendations for the federal government to improve its homeless assistance program.
The report examined Title V of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which was established in 1987 to help identify and provide unused federal properties to homeless assistance organizations for use as emergency shelter, traditional housing, and other services. As part of the McKinney-Vento Act, federal agencies are required to report all properties that are considered excess, surplus, underutilized, and unutilized to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as potential options for usage.
GAO found that a majority of the properties that are required to be screened to determine whether they are suitable to be transferred to homeless assistance organizations are not viable and should not be put forward for screening in the first place. As a result, homeless organizations spend unnecessary time and resources reviewing HUD’s suitability determination to find property that they can apply for. GAO recommends that Congress should take steps to alter the broad scope of properties that are reported to HUD and identify those that are less viable options for homeless assistance. GAO also recommends reducing the number of times reporting is required.
“This report confirms many of the concerns homeless assistance providers have told us for years – that the process to find useful properties is burdensome, costly, and ineffective,” said Chairman Carper. “Much of this results from the federal government’s overall challenges managing its federal property portfolio. There is a general consensus that the federal government has to get smarter about the way it manages buildings and land. While the GAO report recommends a number of common-sense steps that should be implemented, more work remains to get a better handle of our massive federal property portfolio. Last year, Dr. Coburn and I introduced legislation that would help reduce waste and inefficiency by requiring all federal agencies to not only maintain a comprehensive inventory of their properties, but to also take a hard look at which assets they actually need and which could be sold or put to better use, including properties that could help some of our nation’s most vulnerable. I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Administration to improve our federal property management practices, including passing this legislation.”
“Many taxpayers wonder how so many Americans lack stable housing or are homeless when the federal government spends billions every year on housing assistance,” said Dr. Coburn. “This report highlights one reason and it is not a lack of funds but rather a lack of efficient management. The federal government wasted time and resources evaluating over 40,000 federal properties for use by homeless assistance providers, but only 122 properties were transferred  to homeless groups in 27 years. This pitiful performance demonstrates a clear lack of urgency about the plight of families in need.”
The Federal Real Property Asset Reform Act of 2013, introduced by Senators Carper, Coburn, Begich, Portman, Pryor, and Tester last year, would codify a 2004 executive order and require the previously established Federal Real Property Council to oversee reductions in federal real property inventory. The bill would also require agencies to continuously survey their real property to identify excess and underutilized property and to report any excess or underutilized property to the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Federal Real Property Council, a process that agencies do not always consistently follow. Finally, it would also establish a pilot program for the expedited disposal of surplus real property. The bill was also included as a provision of the Postal Reform Act of 2014.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=00c786d5-d18c-4221-bc97-3e10616b15ce,Fall in love with the First State,2014-10-31,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"October 31, 2014 
 Dear Friends, 
I first fell in love with Delaware as I was flying into Dover Air Force Base and saw how beautiful it was from the window of my military transport aircraft. That was back in 1973 during my first year in the U.S. Navy. I was instantly enamored with the First State and I have been ever since. The beauty and distinctiveness of Delaware’s landscape and people is something that I deeply admire. 
Delaware is a sight to see and the place to be during the fall. From the rolling hills of the Brandywine River Valley, to the storied Green in Dover, to apple farms and fall festivals in Sussex County, Delaware offers endless possibilities for travelers and families seeking the perfect travel destination. 
   
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve Delaware. I invite everyone to come and experience the state that I have come to love so much. Check out www.visitDelaware.com to learn more about what you can explore and discover in Delaware this season. 
I also encourage you to share your fall photos this season with me on Twitter @SenatorCarper and on Facebook at facebook.com/tomcarper. 
We hope to see you soon,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141029014726/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/senator-coons-urges-president-of-burkina-faso-to-respect-constitutional-term-limit,Senator Coons urges president of Burkina Faso to respect constitutional term limit,2014-10-28,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 28, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Senator Coons urges president of Burkina Faso to respect constitutional term limit 
					
					 President Compaoré and the National Assembly are considering amending the constitution to allow another term 
					
					
					
					WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, issued the following statement following demonstrations by tens of thousands of Burkinabé Tuesday against attempts by the president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré, to amend the constitution to allow for a third term in office.
“Democratic constitutional processes are vital to ensuring free and fair societies,” Senator Coons said. “President Compaoré and Burkina Faso’s National Assembly should withdraw their plans to amend Article 37 of the country’s constitution, which currently limits elected Presidents to two terms. President Compaoré stood for reelection in 2010 knowing he was eligible to serve for only one more five-year term. He should adhere to the existing constitutional limitation and agree to hand over power following next year’s planned election. 
“The African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance explicitly rejects constitutional changes in order to maintain power for the benefit of the incumbent as ‘illegal’, and an amendment to Article 37 is a clear violation of this principle,” Senator Coons continued. “The Burkinabé marching in the streets of Ouagadougou on Tuesday want their leaders to follow the rules. It is important that the government of Burkina Faso enforces a fair and credible democratic process and respects the term limits set forth in its constitution. The United States supports countries that have enshrined democratic principles, and which abide by transparency, accountability, and participation of the electorate in government institutions. It is critical that Burkina Faso’s leaders make the right choice and end this effort.”
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
							Tags:
                            
                                
                                Foreign Relations, 
                            
                                
                                Subcommittee on African Affairs, 
                            
                                
                                Burkina Faso, 
                            
                                
                                Africa",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=c732a919-3389-4e83-a425-ce5d2e242622,"New GAO Report Finds Cuts to Operations, Service Delay Mail Delivery",2014-10-27,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finds that the Postal Service’s recent changes to its service standards have resulted in slower mail delivery across the country. Sen. Tom Carper, a co-requestor of the report and chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, underscored that the Postal Service’s ongoing financial challenges are causing the Postal Service to make the changes to its delivery standards and operations across the country outlined in the GAO’s report.
In 2012, as part of its effort to reduce overall network costs, the Postal Service announced its intent to change delivery standards for certain classes of mail over the coming years, including ending overnight delivery of First-Class Mail and relaxing delivery standards on Periodicals and Standard Mail. In its report, GAO examined the changes implemented so far to the network, and determined that the revised standards have resulted in longer delivery times for First-Class Mail in many parts of the country. While the report only examined specific delivery data for the Chicago and Dakotas postal districts, national mail volume and performance data obtained from the Postal Service by GAO supports an overall trend in longer mail delivery throughout the nation. The report also looked at delivery performance under these new standards, as well as operational changes, such as the closure of mail processing facilities, that the Postal Service has undertaken as a result of these service changes, and as part of its overall cost-cutting efforts. “This report by the Government Accountability Office tells us something we already know: the United States Postal Service is expected to provide, ‘prompt, reliable and efficient nationwide service,’ but continuous cuts to services affect the Postal Service’s ability to thrive and provide a dependable service that all Americans and businesses can count on,” said Chairman Carper. “These budget cuts, service changes and facility consolidations and closures have a real impact on communities across the country. But, in the absence of reform, the Postal Service will be forced to continue these painful measures and others in order to keep the lights on. To create a service that Americans can rely on – a robust institution to serve generations to come - Congress must take action. The bipartisan Carper-Coburn Postal Reform Act of 2014, reported out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year, addresses the myriad challenges ailing the American institution and ensures it has the tools and resources it needs to thrive in the 21st century. The bill is a bipartisan and balanced solution to the Postal Service’s financial crisis that would preserve key postal operations and service standards, protect millions of mailing industry jobs, and enable this critical institution to serve the American public for years to come. Before the year is done, I urge my colleagues in Congress to take up comprehensive postal reform and fix the serious, but solvable challenges facing the Postal Service.”
Chairman Carper introduced the Postal Reform Act of 2014 with Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) earlier this year. The bipartisan bill, which was reported out of Committee earlier this year, seeks to address the Postal Service’s financial challenges by giving it the freedom and resources it needs to restore its financial health, generate additional revenue, encourage innovation and grow. The bill does this while preserving essential services, including a two-year moratorium on the 82 postal facilities slated to close next year. To learn more about the Postal Reform Act of 2014, go to www.carper.senate.gov/postalreform.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=98431d21-f695-4132-8f66-9f095276ae1d,Don't Catch the Flu or Let the Flu Catch You!,2014-10-24,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"October 24, 2014
Dear Friends,
As the seasons change, the leaves fall, and temperatures drop, I urge all Delawareans to get vaccinated before the annual flu season hits. Each year, peak flu season begins as early as October and lasts until May.
 
This week, to prepare for the season, I received my annual flu shot and I encourage all Delawareans to do the same. We have a shared responsibility to protect our families and our communities by protecting ourselves and getting vaccinated.


Here are some ways to stay healthy this flu season from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
·       Avoid those who have the flu, and if you show symptoms, stay at home. The flu virus is transmitted from person to person and can be spread to others from about 6 feet away.
·       Always wash hands with soap and water. Personal hygiene is important to stop the spread of the virus and a person may get sick by touching a surface with the flu virus on it and then touching their face or mouth.
·      Get Vaccinated! The CDC recommends all persons six months or older get vaccinated for the flu.
The flu vaccine can be found at many locations including doctors’ offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies, and college health centers. You can visit  the website of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services at dhss.delaware.gov for the schedule and location of clinics offering the flu vaccine.
 
This season, get vaccinated to stay safe and healthy so you can enjoy all that fall in Delaware has to offer!Dutifully yours,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=cb6e7e3f-c523-4b2a-8bb3-192c4841fd47,Sen. Carper Applauds D.C. Circuit on EPA's Clean Air Good Neighbor Rule,2014-10-24,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON– Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement applauding the D.C. Circuit for lifting the judicial stay on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, or the “Good Neighbor Rule” attempts to ensure all states are good neighbors by cleaning up their sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution from power plants that drifts across their borders and poses significant risks to public health in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This ruling follows the Supreme Court’s April decision to uphold the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and reverse a previous decision by the D.C. Circuit Court to vacate the rule.           “In April of this year, I was thrilled that the Supreme Court upheld the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule – or what I like to call the Good Neighbor Rule. I am very pleased the D.C. Circuit has and I am very pleased to see the D.C. Circuit Court has finally lifted its judicial stay on the rule. I hope this ruling will finally put us on a path toward cleaner air in the near future.
“Air pollution doesn’t stop at state boundaries. Downwind states like Delaware can only do so much to protect against the harmful impacts of air pollution without cooperation from their neighbors. I always try to live my life by the Golden Rule and treat others the way I want to be treated. The Good Neighbor Rule helps to ensure that states follow the Golden Rule with their air policies so we all work together to reduce pollution.”
The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is EPA’s replacement of the Clean Air Interstate Rule, which also addressed interstate air pollution and was remanded by the D.C. Circuit Court in 2008.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141024005509/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/sen-coons-gov-markell-wnba-superstar-elena-delle-donne-launch-vision-to-learn-delaware,"Sen. Coons, Gov. Markell, WNBA Superstar Elena Delle Donne launch Vision To Learn Delaware",2014-10-23,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, October 23, 2014
                    CONTACT: Brian P. Cunningham 302-573-6054 
					 Sen. Coons, Gov. Markell, WNBA Superstar Elena Delle Donne launch Vision To Learn Delaware 
					
					 35 students presented with their own pair of glasses 
					
					
					
					
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons, Gov. Jack Markell and WNBA superstar Elena Delle Donne joined Vision To Learn founder and chairman, Austin Beutner, to launch the organization’s first public/private partnership to bring free mobile eye exams and free glasses to school children in low-income communities in Delaware. The event culminated in the distribution of free eye glasses to 35 school children at the Evan G. Shortlidge Academy.
Vision To Learn selected Delaware as the first state in a nationwide rollout to show how a close collaboration of state government, health care providers, school districts, and philanthropy can work together to meet the vision needs of school children in low-income communities.
“When you can improve the vision of a child, you open up an entire new world to them,” Senator Coons said . “Too many Delaware children who need glasses go without, so I was proud to help bring Vision To Learn to Delaware so students who are in need of glasses receive them to help them achieve their full potential.”
“From providing high-quality early learning opportunities to increasing access to college and job training, we must be committed to ensuring cost is not an obstacle for Delaware’s students to receive a great education,” Governor Markell said. “But that’s not possible if our children can’t see what their teachers are showing them in class. I want to thank Austin and his team for their commitment to this important initiative and Senator Coons for his leadership in making vision services available to kids who need them the most. Together, we will help develop a roadmap for all children to see a clear and bright future.”
“Today’s event kicks off a new chapter for Vision To Learn, combining private philanthropy and Medicaid reimbursement to provide the funds necessary to ensure all children get the glasses they need,” Mr. Beutner said. “Our efforts in California have been funded entirely by private donations, so this marks a new and exciting public/private partnership model for our organization and for the future.""
Students who can’t see have a more challenging time learning. As many as two million children across the United States lack the eye glasses they need to succeed in school and life. Vision To Learn’s common sense approach allows optometrists and opticians, working out of a state-of-the-art mobile clinic, to provide service directly to the schools and the students. Established in 2012 by the Beutner Family Foundation, Vision To Learn has already helped more than 25,000 children in California receive free eye exams and free glasses.
Photo courtesy of Saquan Stimpson/Vision To Learn
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=10df49ed-9f9f-4f89-a874-e1633282f599,Chairman Carper Recognizes Outstanding DHS Employees Awarded Secretary Awards,2014-10-23,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement to congratulate and recognize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees awarded with Secretary’s service awards.  “Every day, more than 240,000 men and women at the Department of Homeland Security report to work to fulfill one critical mission: to ensure that our homeland is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other threats so that the American way of life can thrive,” said Chairman Carper. “The work they do is incredibly important and, in some cases, can be very dangerous as well.  From countering terrorism and securing our borders and airports, to responding to natural disasters and disrupting cyber intrusions, the Department’s public servants dedicate their lives to the well-being of their neighbors and our country. For that, we Americans owe them all immeasurable thanks. Today, Secretary Johnson recognized and awarded over three hundred outstanding employees based on references from their colleagues across the agency. These men and women are courageous, dedicated, and exemplary employees that embody the Department’s core mission and attest to the important work being done by thousands of individuals across the Department every day. I congratulate the recipients of these prestigious awards, and I thank each and every one of them for their tireless service to our country.” 
For more information on the DHS Secretary Awards and the 2014 recipients, please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/2014-awards.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141024005513/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/senator-coons-applauds-eus-increased-commitment-to-stopping-ebola-and-rejection-of-travel-ban,Senator Coons applauds EU’s increased commitment to stopping Ebola and rejection of travel ban,2014-10-21,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 21, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Senator Coons applauds EU’s increased commitment to stopping Ebola and rejection of travel ban 
					
					
					
					WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, issued the following statement Tuesday after the European Union pledged to increase its contribution to $1.27 billion in assistance to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
“Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared 43 Americans who had been quarantined in Texas after coming into contact with Thomas Eric Duncan, the World Health Organization announced that Nigeria is now Ebola-free, and Emory University discharged a third American who had been infected with Ebola while in West Africa. These three milestones were important steps in the worldwide response to Ebola. We can defeat this virus if we work together.
“The European Union today doubled its commitment to stopping the Ebola epidemic, taking a more appropriate level of responsibility for halting the spread of this virus. EU member countries now must heed that call, step up, and deliver. These countries and others in the international community have the resources to do more and a responsibility to prevent this outbreak from spreading. 
“The EU also did what the U.S. should continue to do: reject a travel ban. Leaders in the EU recognized that a ban on air passengers from West Africa would only make it harder to identify and isolate those traveling with the virus. The Obama Administration should similarly resist politicized calls for a ban here in the United States.”
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                Africa, 
                            
                                
                                Foreign Relations, 
                            
                                
                                Ebola, 
                            
                                
                                Health, 
                            
                                
                                Subcommittee on African Affairs",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141019124755/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/senator-coons-welcomes-appointment-of-an-ebola-coordinator,Senator Coons welcomes appointment of an Ebola coordinator,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 17, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Senator Coons welcomes appointment of an Ebola coordinator 
					
					 Senator called for a coordinator to be named to manage the government's response five weeks ago 
					
					
					
					WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, welcomed the President’s appointment of Ron Klain as the coordinator of the U.S. government’s response to the spread of Ebola. Senator Coons had urged the President to appoint an Ebola coordinator in a speech on the Senate floor on September 11, 2014.
“The sheer enormity of the challenge of protecting Americans from the spread of Ebola in the United States and stopping the outbreak in West Africa requires a clearly defined coordinator tasked with managing our response. Coordinating the government’s massive international response to this situation needs to be someone’s full-time job, not a task competing for attention with other global crises.
“Ron Klain is a qualified and capable leader respected throughout the government. He is a brilliant strategist and is known for his ability to manage large, complex operations. Ron also understands the importance of clear communications to the containment of a crisis like this. Ron has my trust and confidence, and I’m glad the President has selected him for this critical responsibility.”
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
							Tags:
                            
                                
                                Africa, 
                            
                                
                                Ebola",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=46bc98c4-18a0-42a3-865c-afc2133eb851,Principal for a Day,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends,

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the Delaware Principal for a Day program at Lake Forest Central Elementary in Felton. This Kent County school is led by Principal Bridget Amory and for a few hours one morning, I was her shadow.The Delaware Principal for a Day program began in 1993 by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, and it connects business and community leaders with Delaware school principals. The goal is to help us all better understand how to educate our future workforce. This year, more than 100 schools opened their doors to host a guest principal. Principal Amory led me through her 4th and 5th grade school, where I observed teacher meetings, met with a few parents, visited classrooms and even stepped behind the counter of the school cafeteria to see how the staff incorporates local fresh fruits and vegetables into their daily menu.The 600 students at Lake Forest Central are lucky to have Principal Amory leading their school. At the end of the day, I went back to my job and she to hers, and I had a greater appreciation for the hard work that goes into educating our students.
Always learning,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=f3b491b0-2539-4102-b255-2d9af15048da,Chairman Carper Welcomes Administration Announcement on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, welcomed the President’s latest Executive Order to better safeguard consumers’ financial security and the creation of the Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection.
“Nearly every day, we learn of more cyber attacks and data breaches that underscore just how vulnerable we really are to hackers seeking to steal from us or do us harm,” said Chairman Carper. “As we have learned over the years, we are unfortunately all targets in cyberspace. Given all that relies on a safe and secure Internet, it is vital that we do what’s necessary to protect ourselves from these repeated attacks. That’s why I welcome the President’s efforts to take additional steps to tackle this problem and keep our sensitive information secure. The government and industry need to continue to work together to address this ever growing threat to our nation, and the task force the President is putting together will do just that. But the Administration can’t do it alone; Congress also has the responsibility to act. I echo the President’s call for Congress to come together to pass cybersecurity and data breach legislation this year. I have introduced four bills with bipartisan support that would go a long way in addressing several key challenges that all of us face online. This is an important opportunity for the government to lead by example. I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the Administration, and stakeholders to build on this latest executive order and pass legislation that addresses this critical issue as soon as possible.”
The DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act of 2014 would help address critical challenges that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces in hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals by providing the Secretary of Homeland Security hiring and compensation authorities for cybersecurity experts like those of the Secretary of Defense. The measure was unanimously approved by the Senate as part of S.1691 on September 18
The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014 would codify the existing cybersecurity and communications operations center at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The bill calls on the Center is to serve as the federal civilian information sharing interface for cybersecurity. The bill authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cybersecurity information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cybersecurity. It was reported out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on June 25.
The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 would update the Federal Information Security Act of 2002 and address critical issues that have risen over the past 12 years. The bill would better delineate the roles and responsibilities of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and DHS, move agencies away from paperwork-heavy processes toward real-time and automated security, and put greater management and oversight attention on data breaches. It was reported out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on June 25.
The Data Security Act would better protect consumers by replacing the current patchwork of state laws and establishing one set of national standards. It would require entities such as financial institutions, retailers, and federal agencies to better safeguard sensitive information, investigate security breaches, and notify consumers when there is a substantial risk of identity theft or account fraud. These new requirements would apply to businesses that take credit or debit card information, data brokers that compile private information, and government agencies that possess nonpublic personal information.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/otherstatements?ContentRecord_id=e6581ea7-99aa-412a-a573-6bd26f2ddefe,Chairman Carper on Retirement of TSA Administrator John Pistole,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding the retirement of Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole:
“The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has the challenging – but critical – mission of protecting the nation's transportation systems while ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce. Few people know this mission better than Administrator John Pistole. For nearly 5 years, he has led the agency with dedication and a forward-thinking approach.  During his distinguished tenure at TSA, he modernized a number of agency policies to enhance the security of the traveling public while making air travel more convenient.  A key example of Administrator Pistole's efforts was the creation of the Pre Check program, which allows trusted travelers who pass background checks to go through an expedited screening process at our nation's airports. His commitment to public service is as admirable as it has been remarkable, having served over 30 years in the federal government -- including six years as Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has forged strong relationships with Members from both sides of the aisle, and I know I speak for many of us when I say that we will miss his strong leadership at TSA and the Department of Homeland Security.  I wish John and his family all the best as they start this new chapter in their lives, and I thank him for his service to the agency and our nation. I look forward to working with the Administration and our colleagues in the Senate to confirm a successor for this crucial leadership position as soon as possible.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=8a8145b2-007f-4f01-bac7-23e9b83de009,Chairman Carper on Retirement of TSA Administrator John Pistole,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding the retirement of Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole:
“The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has the challenging – but critical – mission of protecting the nation's transportation systems while ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce. Few people know this mission better than Administrator John Pistole. For nearly 5 years, he has led the agency with dedication and a forward-thinking approach.  During his distinguished tenure at TSA, he modernized a number of agency policies to enhance the security of the traveling public while making air travel more convenient.  A key example of Administrator Pistole's efforts was the creation of the Pre Check program, which allows trusted travelers who pass background checks to go through an expedited screening process at our nation's airports. His commitment to public service is as admirable as it has been remarkable, having served over 30 years in the federal government -- including six years as Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has forged strong relationships with Members from both sides of the aisle, and I know I speak for many of us when I say that we will miss his strong leadership at TSA and the Department of Homeland Security.  I wish John and his family all the best as they start this new chapter in their lives, and I thank him for his service to the agency and our nation. I look forward to working with the Administration and our colleagues in the Senate to confirm a successor for this crucial leadership position as soon as possible.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=8bf65468-b8cc-4543-8953-72e495182581,Senators Wyden and Carper Welcome WTO Decision Upholding U.S. Farmer's Access to Indian Market,2014-10-15,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Tom Carper, D-Del., welcomed a World Trade Organization decision today that India’s ban on imports of various U.S. agricultural products - including a wide range of poultry products - without a scientific basis for doing so, violated international trade rules. 
Senator Wyden said, “When countries put up baseless barriers to American agricultural products, we need to stand up for strong enforcement of the rules.  Today’s decision is a well-deserved victory for hard-working American farmers across the country.”
Senator Carper said, “Today’s ruling is a welcome sign that trade barriers erected by unscientific restrictions on American agricultural exports will not stand. There is still work to be done to open India’s enormous market to American farmers, but this decision has the potential to restore great economic opportunity for them and our country. Agriculture has always been a vital part of Delaware's economy and today about 70 percent of our state’s agricultural exports come from the poultry industry. In recent years we have been successful in addressing China and Mexico’s trade barriers that kept Delmarva poultry out of those important markets and my hope is we’re on our way to doing the same in India.”
The ruling is the first step to reopening the Indian market to U.S. ag and poultry products. The WTO now must formally adopt the report, which starts the clock for India to comply with the ruling.
More information is available from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141016133118/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/senator-coons-praises-wto-ruling-in-favor-of-us-poultry,Senator Coons praises WTO ruling in favor of U.S. poultry,2014-10-14,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 14, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Senator Coons praises WTO ruling in favor of U.S. poultry 
					
					 Decision condemns India’s illegal restrictions on American poultry 
					
					
					
					WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and chair of the bipartisan Senate Chicken Caucus, praised the World Trade Organization’s ruling Tuesday that India had illegally blocked imports of U.S. poultry based on unfounded claims about avian influenza. Experts estimate that India’s restrictions are preventing the export of approximately $300 million in U.S. chicken annually.
“Delaware has long been a global leader in the production of poultry products that adhere to the most rigorous and comprehensive of safety measures,” Senator Coons said. “India’s unsubstantiated claims about the risk of avian influenza in American poultry have prevented Delaware chicken-growers from exporting their high-quality products to an important and growing market. Exports play a critical role in the health of America’s poultry industry, making it important that the United States fight the unfair protectionist policies of some of the biggest markets in the world. While today’s WTO ruling doesn’t mean automatic access to the Indian market, it is an important step forward in that fight. Delaware's poultry community is one of the largest employers in the state, providing jobs for thousands of Delawareans and generating billions of dollars for our economy. My seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee affords me a unique opportunity to fight for Delaware’s poultry growers abroad, and I am committed to using that opportunity to help open new markets and increase exports. I will work with the U.S. Trade Representative and my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that this ruling is fully implemented and that these barriers to fair trade are torn down.”
Delaware’s poultry industry supports more than 13,000 jobs and contributes more than $3.2 billion to the state’s economy.
“India’s ban was thinly veiled protectionism,” said USA Poultry & Egg Export Council President James Sumner and National Chicken Council President Michael Brown. “This ruling should send a signal to India and other countries that have placed similar bans on U.S. poultry that they are inconsistent with WTO rules and with guidelines established by the World Organization for Animal Health.
In May 2012, Senator Coons hosted Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Nirupama Rao in Delaware to meet with Delaware poultry companies, as well as state and federal agriculture officials, and visit the University of Delaware College of Agriculture’s Allen Lab for poultry science research. The trip was designed to show the high quality and integrity of Delaware’s poultry businesses and research institutions.
In 2011, Senator Coons — with Senator Tom Carper and a bipartisan group of 17 of their colleagues — urged the Office of the United States Trade Representative to resolve India’s longstanding, non-scientifically based policies against U.S. poultry during a meeting with India’s senior government leaders. More on that letter is available here: http://1.usa.gov/1Chq4XE
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                Agriculture, 
                            
                                
                                Poultry Industry, 
                            
                                
                                Foreign Relations, 
                            
                                
                                Foreign Relations Committee",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141017001354/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/senator-coons-joins-catholic-charities-to-call-on-us-health-and-human-services-for-faster-release-of-liheap-relief,Senator Coons joins Catholic Charities to call on US Health and Human Services for faster release of LIHEAP relief,2014-10-10,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 10, 2014
                    CONTACT: Brian Cunningham (302) 573-6054 
					 Senator Coons joins Catholic Charities to call on US Health and Human Services for faster release of LIHEAP relief 
					
					
					
					
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons joined Richelle Vible, Catholic Charities Executive Director, and family case workers to request the release of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds from Health and Human Services Department.
For more than 25 years, Catholic Charities has been the official state agency to administer LIHEAP funds for the state of Delaware which provides energy assistance funds for those qualifying for the program.
A letter signed by 45 Senators across party lines was sent to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, stressing that LIHEAP is the main federal program helping low-income households and seniors with their energy bills. LIHEAP funding is for the at-risk members of our community (over 19,000 state wide), and its absence could mean a choice between medicine, groceries, or heating the home.
While the Delaware Energy Assistance Program does not pay for all heating costs, it provides a critical supplement – on average, a family receives about $600 to help with heating.
“Choosing between heating your home and buying medication for your family is a choice no one should ever have to make,” said Sen. Coons. “Today we called on the HHS department to release LIHEAP funds sooner so families who qualify can receive the help that they need.”
“Our clients have been filing in for the past three weeks registering for their Delaware Energy Assistance Program benefit,” said Vible. “Having these funds being released from Health and Human Services as soon as possible allow us to begin serving our constituents in a timely fashion.”
Senator Coons is committed to protecting funding for LIHEAP, as well as investing in other energy efficiency programs, such as weatherization, that can keep heating costs down for Delaware families.
If you or someone you know are in need of assistance to heat your home this winter, please call Sen. Coons’ constituent services representatives at 302-573-6345. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=46dbfcb5-4847-489e-8f33-0cde0b01d377,"Lights, Camera, Action in the First State",2014-10-10,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends,
This week I had the opportunity to visit two of Delmarva’s television stations, WMDT and WBOC. I hope many of you had a chance to see the resulting stories, in which I discussed a number of salient issues facing Delawareans and Americans across the country and around the world today.
My first stop was at WMDT, where I had the chance to sit down with Lenita Wesson and discuss the importance of long-term transportation funding and comprehensive postal reform. It’s critical that Congress bypasses partisan gridlock and passes both a long-term transportation plan that our states, cities, and businesses need and a postal plan that would enable this American institution to do what it needs to do to grow and get back to financial health.

 
Next stop, I visited the WBOC studios. During my time with the news team, I had the opportunity to discuss some of the challenges facing our homeland, including the threat of the terrorist extremists abroad and Ebola in West Africa. To hear some of my thoughts on those issues, watch here:  

 I always enjoy having the opportunity to share my thoughts with Delawareans – but more important, I appreciate hearing the thoughts of Delawareans like you. As always, I welcome hearing your views on these issues, or any other, through email or by contacting me on Twitter @SenatorCarper and on Facebook at facebook.com/tomcarper.  
 
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=f681aa61-5074-4f53-aa76-60ad138cc954,Henrietta Johnson receives federal grant to hire health care workers,2014-10-07,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del) joined Henrietta Johnson Medical Center CEO Richard Melke and staff to announce a $210,682 grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help HJMC hire staff to help treat patients.
“This funding will allow Henrietta Johnson Medical Center to expand our services in Family Practice, Women’s Health and Dental by hiring additional providers,” said Richard Melke, HJMC CEO. “This supports our mission by responding to the health care needs of our community by providing integrated and coordinated health care for insured and uninsured patients.”
Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, a federally qualified health center, serves the Wilmington population at two locations and is a cost-effective alternative to emergency room-based primary health care services. Nationwide, nearly 1,300 health centers operate more 9,200 service delivery sites that provide care to more than 21.7 million patients.
“This funding is made possible by the Affordable Care Act and will help Henrietta Johnson reach out and treat patients who otherwise would not have a medical home,” Sen. Carper said. “I am proud of the work they are doing on the front lines to inform, care for and offer preventive medicine and treatment to Delawareans.”
“Receiving health care in a timely fashion is critical to living a healthy and happy life,” Sen. Coons said. “Thanks to this grant provided by the Affordable Care Act, staff at the Henrietta Johnson Medical Center will receive additional resources to achieve their mission of ‘helping, healing and caring’ for their patients.”
“The doctors, nurses, and staff at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center work tirelessly to provide quality, affordable care to everyone who walks through their doors,” Congressman Carney said.  “The grant announced today will help the Center hire more providers, expand its reach, and give more Delawareans the care they need, regardless of whether or not they have insurance.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=13d24449-ed95-4c5e-a333-6f9bb135db91,Chairman Carper: Funding for Second Phase of St. Elizabeths Critical Step But We Can't Stop Here,2014-10-06,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del) highlighted the General Services Administration’s (GSA) recent announcement that it has begun the second phase of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters consolidation at St. Elizabeths West campus and commended the agency for moving forward with the project.
GSA announced that it is has hired two companies, Grunley Construction Company and Shalom Baranes Associates, to renovate the Center Building at St. Elizabeths, which is slated to house nearly 700 employees. This is the second phase of the project and is funded by Fiscal Year 2014 appropriations. The next phase is completion of the Center Building Complex, intended to house the secretary, executive leadership, and additional staff. However, that phase cannot be completed without Fiscal Year 2015 funding from Congress. The President’s fiscal year 2015 budget request includes $323 million combined for GSA and DHS to complete renovation of the St. Elizabeths Center Building Complex and provide necessary access road improvements. If funding for the next phase is not appropriated, it will leave the Center Building practicably unusable, wasting the $348 million already spent or appropriated for that building and forcing DHS to renew short-term leases.
“The lack of a centralized headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is worse than inconvenient or inefficient – it constrains the very ability of the Department to function effectively to carry out its homeland security mission,” said Chairman Carper. “A unified DHS headquarters at St. Elizabeths is vital to improving mission effectiveness, management, and efficiency. This recent announcement by the General Services Administration (GSA) is a critically important step for the project and demonstrates the agency’s support and commitment to building the unified, consolidated DHS Congress envisioned when it created the Department in the wake of the September, 11 2001 terrorist attacks. But we can’t stop here. As my Committee’s recent report showed, continued investment in the St. Elizabeths project is fiscally prudent over the long run, with the potential to save nearly a billion taxpayer dollars. Stopping after this phase would simply waste hundreds of millions of dollars already invested in the project. Given its importance, the St. Elizabeths DHS consolidation project should remain a funding priority, and Congress and the Administration should come together on a plan to move forward with the project.”
Last month, the Committee’s majority staff released a report, “Security and Savings: The Importance of Consolidating the Department of Homeland Security’s Headquarters at St. Elizabeths,” that found that the completion of a consolidated Department of Homeland Security headquarters project at the St. Elizabeths West campus would improve our nation’s homeland security and save the federal government almost $1 billion over the next 30 years.
In 2006, the Bush administration proposed consolidating more than 50 DHS offices, many onto the St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast Washington, D.C. Construction began in 2009 but has significantly slowed in the face of inconsistent and inadequate funding from Congress. Today, DHS still operates out of more than 50 separate facilities in the Washington, D.C. region, many of which are physically inadequate. The current infrastructure used to house DHS has made it much more difficult to implement the vision behind the Homeland Security Act and create the collaborative approach envisioned.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=fad43860-3bf1-49e3-a4b4-8985a470c878,Sen. Carper and SBA Administrator Contreras-Sweet  visit Bridgeville's O.A. Newton,2014-10-06,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"From left: SBA Region III Administrator Natalia Olson-Urtecho, Delaware District SBA Administrator John Fleming, O.A. Newton owner Rob Rider, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and U.S. Sen. Tom Carper stopped by O.A. Newton in Bridgeville to celebrate National Manufacturing Day.
BRIDGEVILLE, Del. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) toured Bridgeville Manufacturer O.A. Newton with SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and Delaware District SBA Director John Fleming. O.A. Newton is a family business that began in 1916 serving the poultry industry, and now provides material handling systems for companies around the world. Manufacturing Day brings attention to North American manufacturers, encouraging them to open their doors to showcase the potential of modern manufacturing and foster interest in manufacturing careers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=a7972730-3bc8-4865-b133-d21b9390d4fb,National Cyber Security Awareness Month,2014-10-03,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends,
This October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.     This month underscores the responsibility that all Americans have to educate and protect themselves regarding responsible cyber practices online. In a world where we spend so much time plugged in and logged on, it’s important that we stop and think before connecting to the Internet.
The Department of Homeland Security has some tips for keeping yourself, your assets and your personal information safe online:
 
Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone;
Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates;
Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends, and community about Internet safety;
Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely;
Be cautious about what you receive or read online—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
 
That being said, we have a shared responsibility when it comes to cyber security. As chairman on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I’ve been working hard with my colleagues to pass bipartisan legislation that would improve our government’s cyber capabilities.
Nearly every day, we hear about criminals and nation states launching cyber attacks that could undermine our national security and cause wide-scale economic damage. These cyber criminals are probing our government agencies, universities, and critical infrastructure – and they are looking for weak spots in our defenses.
Congress has an important role in making sure that the federal government and its partners have the tools and resources to counter these 21st century threats with a 21st century response. It is my hope that we can come together as a nation – government and industry, Democrat and Republican – and work together to tackle the growing cyber security threats we face.
For more information on National Cyber Security Awareness Month, visit DHS.gov.
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-clips?ContentRecord_id=101b3378-2b34-4053-879a-3be9ebdd9d02,Chairman Carper: Funding for Second Phase of St. Elizabeths Critical Step But We Cant Stop Here,2014-10-03,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del) highlighted the General Services Administration’s (GSA) recent announcement that it has begun the second phase of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters consolidation at St. Elizabeths West campus and commended the agency for moving forward with the project.
GSA announced that it is has hired two companies, Grunley Construction Company and Shalom Baranes Associates, to renovate the Center Building at St. Elizabeths, which is slated to house nearly 700 employees. This is the second phase of the project and is funded by Fiscal Year 2014 appropriations. The next phase is completion of the Center Building Complex, intended to house the secretary, executive leadership, and additional staff. However, that phase cannot be completed without Fiscal Year 2015 funding from Congress. The President’s fiscal year 2015 budget request includes $323 million combined for GSA and DHS to complete renovation of the St. Elizabeths Center Building Complex and provide necessary access road improvements. If funding for the next phase is not appropriated, it will leave the Center Building practicably unusable, wasting the $348 million already spent or appropriated for that building and forcing DHS to renew short-term leases.
“The lack of a centralized headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is worse than inconvenient or inefficient – it constrains the very ability of the Department to function effectively to carry out its homeland security mission,” said Chairman Carper. “A unified DHS headquarters at St. Elizabeths is vital to improving mission effectiveness, management, and efficiency. This recent announcement by the General Services Administration (GSA) is a critically important step for the project and demonstrates the agency’s support and commitment to building the unified, consolidated DHS Congress envisioned when it created the Department in the wake of the September, 11 2001 terrorist attacks. But we can’t stop here. As my Committee’s recent report showed, continued investment in the St. Elizabeths project is fiscally prudent over the long run, with the potential to save nearly a billion taxpayer dollars. Stopping after this phase would simply waste hundreds of millions of dollars already invested in the project. Given its importance, the St. Elizabeths DHS consolidation project should remain a funding priority, and Congress and the Administration should come together on a plan to move forward with the project.”
Last month, the Committee’s majority staff released a report, “Security and Savings: The Importance of Consolidating the Department of Homeland Security’s Headquarters at St. Elizabeths,” that found that the completion of a consolidated Department of Homeland Security headquarters project at the St. Elizabeths West campus would improve our nation’s homeland security and save the federal government almost $1 billion over the next 30 years.
In 2006, the Bush administration proposed consolidating more than 50 DHS offices, many onto the St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast Washington, D.C. Construction began in 2009 but has significantly slowed in the face of inconsistent and inadequate funding from Congress. Today, DHS still operates out of more than 50 separate facilities in the Washington, D.C. region, many of which are physically inadequate. The current infrastructure used to house DHS has made it much more difficult to implement the vision behind the Homeland Security Act and create the collaborative approach envisioned.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-clips?ContentRecord_id=31a04328-1a2b-4639-b11c-5164a34e18ed,Federal Funding Supports Oyster Farming in Delawares Inland Bays,2014-10-03,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) joined local and state officials, representatives from the University of Delaware and the Center for the Inland Bays to announce two federal grants to support the development of oyster farming in Delaware’s Inland Bays.
The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded $164,341 to the University of Delaware to study the economics of ecosystem services from aquaculture and estimating consumer willingness to pay for oysters marketed as local and marketed as improving water quality.
Also, USDA Rural Development awarded the University of Delaware’s Sustainable Coastal Communities Initiative a $28,287 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to work with a b + c Creative Intelligence to research and develop a branding strategy for Inland Bay aquaculture products that will be used by all the new shellfish farmers to brand and market their products to restaurants and customers.
In 2013, the Delaware General Assembly passed legislation that allowed for commercial aquaculture in the Inland Bays.
“These grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce and USDA Rural Development will look into the business potential for Delaware shellfish aquaculture,” said Sen. Carper. “Oyster farming is a win-win for Delaware, since oysters improve water quality and farming will create another local industry that provides jobs. There is good work being done in Delaware by both public and private partners, and these grants will help further that research.”
“DNREC has worked diligently, along with many partners, to implement measures that improve the water quality of our Inland Bays – reducing nutrients from agriculture, eliminating waste water discharges and improving stormwater management,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “The new aquaculture regulations will help assure that this industry grows in a way that preserves our native hard clam populations, is compatible with other public uses, creates economic development and improves water quality. These grants will help the industry take informed next steps.”
“We are all extremely excited to see oyster aquaculture come to our state, because oysters have the potential to be both good for the economy and good for the environment and it is somewhat rare that you see these two things go hand in hand,” said Sunny Jardine, assistant professor in the School of Marine Science and Policy at the University of Delaware. “Having oysters in the water improves water quality, because oysters filter nutrient pollutants out of the water, such as Nitrogen and Phosphorous, which come from agricultural and urban runoff and pollute our water bodies.”
“With funding support from USDA Rural Development, we have initiated an effort to develop a strong, local market share for Inland Bays aquaculture products,” said Ed Lewandowski, UD Coastal Communities Development Specialist. “Creating brand affinity with consumers and brand equity for producers will be absolutely critical to gaining successful product entry and then sustaining this market success.” 
“Delaware oyster farmers will be stewards of the Bays,” said Chris Bason, Executive Director of the Center for the Inland Bays. “Their livelihood, like that of so many others in Sussex County, depends on clean water.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=363c816f-1449-4f60-87a3-cc4bfaa567d2,Chairman Carper Highlights Cyber Security Awareness Month,2014-10-02,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"During the month of October, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Cyber Security Alliance, and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center raise awareness about cyber security in an effort to educate Americans about how to protect themselves online. Through a series of events and initiatives across the country, National Cyber Security Awareness Month engages public and private sector partners to raise awareness and educate Americans about cyber security, and increase the resiliency of the Nation and its cyber infrastructure.
Chairman Carper: “In a world where we spend so much time plugged in and logged on, we need to remain vigilant about our vulnerabilities in cyber space. As Americans take greater advantage of innovations that encourage us to communicate and do business online, it is critical that we also take steps to protect our sensitive information and prevent data breaches. Cyber Security Awareness Month serves as an important reminder for Americans to learn about how to protect themselves in cyber space, and underscores the responsibility that every American has to educate and protect themselves through responsible cyber practices. But Congress has an important responsibility to address cyber security, too. Far too often, we hear about criminals and nation states launching cyber attacks that could undermine our national security and cause wide-scale economic damage or even physical harm. It is critically important that the federal government and its partners have the tools and resources to counter the 21st century threats we face today. I will continue to work with Dr. Coburn and my colleagues in the Senate on cyber security legislation to better secure our nation from evolving cyber threats.”
This September, the Senate unanimously passed the Border Agent Pay Reform Act of 2013, which contained language from the DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act, reported out of Committee last May. The bill would help DHS recruit and retain cyber professionals which are in high demand across the government and private sector. The legislation would help address critical challenges that the Department faces in hiring and retaining cybersecurity professionals by providing the Secretary of Homeland Security hiring and compensation authorities for cybersecurity experts like those of the Secretary of Defense.
The Committee has also approved key pieces of legislation that would modernize and address critical challenges to the nation’s cyber security capabilities. In June, the committee passed the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014, which would codify the existing cyber security and communications operations center at DHS, known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The bill calls on the Center is to serve as a federal civilian information sharing interface for cybersecurity. The bill authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cyber security information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cyber security.
The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 would update the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 and address critical issues that have risen over the past 12 years. The bill would better delineate the roles and responsibilities of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and DHS, move agencies away from paperwork-heavy processes toward real-time and automated security, and put greater management and oversight attention on data breaches. Both pieces of legislation await a vote in the full Senate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=466d8244-a76b-46a3-b0cf-974ac37e57a3,New Report Details Millions Spent on Unnecessary Transport of Surplus Vehicles From Afghanistan,2014-10-01,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON –According to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Department of Defense (DOD) spent tens of millions of dollars in unnecessary returns of surplus vehicles from Afghanistan to the United States during a one year period. Today, a bipartisan group of Senators on the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs highlighted the report findings.
The report, Afghanistan Equipment Drawdown: Progress Made, but Improved Controls in Decision Making Could Reduce Risk of Unnecessary Expenditures (GAO-14-768), found that during a one-year period, the United States Army and Marine Corps returned more than 1,000 military surplus vehicles from Afghanistan to the United States, even though the vehicles were not determined to be needed and therefore should not have been returned. The cost of returning a vehicle to the U.S. is upwards of $100,000 per vehicle - for a total cost as high as $100 million in unnecessary shipments during the period of time examined by GAO. The vehicles in question were no longer needed by the military. The report found that if the Army and Marine Corp had followed Department of Defense proper rules and procedures, the services would have either transferred the surplus vehicles to appropriate overseas allies or scrapped the vehicles in Afghanistan, saving a significant amount of money in logistical and shipping costs.
Senator Carper, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: “This report is a troubling reminder that the Department of Defense has more work do in managing taxpayer dollars. The Government Accountability Office underscores that the DOD can and should do a much better job in preventing unnecessary costs by taking some common sense steps in managing its surplus military vehicles. We simply cannot afford this type of waste and ineffectiveness. Given the tremendous fiscal challenges our government faces, we have an obligation to look in every nook and cranny of our budgets for savings. I believe this is an area where simple yet effective improvements can be made to achieve better results for less money.”
Dr. Coburn, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: “Until DOD leadership gets serious about financial management and fundamentally changes the way the Department manages its business and holds itself accountable, Americans will continue to see DOD waste scarce taxpayer dollars. Despite the Department’s assurances that it is making progress and working hard to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars, we see examples like this time and again. Especially in this budgetary environment, actions matter more than empty promises.”
Senator McCaskill, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight: “At a time when we’re turning over every rock to find savings for taxpayers—and while we’re engaged in a national conversation about the use of military equipment at home—this kind of waste is unacceptable. I expect military leaders to take these findings seriously and do better.”
Senator Tester, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce: “This issue deserves the highest level of attention and oversight,” Tester said. “While I understand the Defense Department is operating under intense time and budget pressures, we must use common-sense when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars – especially when Americans have already paid a steep price for this conflict.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=936e87fc-5d1f-452b-a578-3ab3506f861c,Chairman Carper Statement on U.S. Secret Service,2014-10-01,2014,2014-10,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Secret Service:
“Secretary Johnson has informed me that he has accepted Director Pierson’s resignation. I know this was a difficult decision for Director Pierson, and I thank her for her 30 years of service to the agency and to our nation. Now, it is time to turn the page. It is critical for us to understand the obvious dissonance that exists within an agency that can secure an event with over 100 world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City for nearly three weeks without apparent incident, but simultaneously fail to keep an intruder from running into the White House.
“I am encouraged that Secretary Johnson has appointed Deputy Secretary Ali Mayorkas to lead the investigation into what went wrong during the September 19 incident at the White House. I also support the Secretary’s decision to appoint an independent panel to investigate the Secret Service’s training, operating procedures, management, and culture to determine whether these problems are endemic and what must be done to fix them. The key to this panel’s success is having the right people and the right leadership.  I recommend that the Secretary selects a panel of members with unimpeachable integrity who are steeped in law enforcement and related areas. My committee and I will continue to stay in close contact with the Department of Homeland Security and will take appropriate next steps once these reviews are completed.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141001165507/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/carper-coons-carney-host-seasonal-job-fair-at-christiana-mall-for-400-job-seekers,"Carper, Coons, Carney host seasonal job fair at Christiana Mall for 400+ job seekers",2014-09-30,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 30, 2014
                    CONTACT: Brian P. Cunningham at 302-573-6054 or brian_cunningham@coons.senate.gov 
					 Carper, Coons, Carney host seasonal job fair at Christiana Mall for 400+ job seekers 
					
					 Fair featured more than 35 stores seeking to fill full-time and seasonal positions   
					
					
					
					NEWARK, Del. – The third annual Holiday Job Fair, hosted by U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney, drew more than 400 job seekers to the Christiana Mall Tuesday afternoon. The fair, which featured more than 35 employers, was designed specifically to connect potential new hires with retail and other mall outlets looking to meet increased staffing demands ahead of the busy holiday season. 
The dozens of stores were seeking to fill of positions not just for the holiday retail season, but for full-time positions as well. Retailers such as JCPenney, Macy’s, and Target sought to hire more than 100 employees each, and new movie theatre Cinemark Christiana was hoping to fill at least 80 part-time and full-time job vacancies.
Other participants included LL Bean, Delaware State Police, Champs, Hallmark, GameStop, American Eagle, Sprint, Sephora, Cabela’s, Kitchen Magic, Loft, Pottery Barn, JCREW, Bebe, Barnes & Noble, Banana Republic, Chick-Fil-A, Invicta and Armani Exchange. Retailers received hundreds of applications, conducted on-the-spot interviews, and in some cases, even extended job offers.
“The uptick in business during the holidays is a great opportunity to pick up extra work, and today’s fair put job candidates in front of businesses looking to hire. There is even opportunity for these jobs to turn into permanent, full-time positions,” said Sen. Carper. “The Congressional Delegation will continue to hold these job fairs for all types of industries and careers so that businesses are fully staffed and more Delawareans are back to work.”
“The turnout today is proof that there are unemployed or underemployed Delawareans who are ready and willing to work if given the opportunity, and there are places who need employees,” said Senator Coons. “We were also pleased with the number of stores looking to fill positions continue to participate in these job fairs, demonstrating that there is a continued value meeting those looking for work.”
“Today was a chance to connect Delawareans with job opportunities through the holiday season,” said Congressman Carney. “Retailers up and down the state look for hard workers to help them out during the busiest time of year. More needs to be done to get Delawareans into permanent jobs, which is why we’ll continue hosting our regular job fairs. In the meantime, seasonal jobs are a great way to earn some extra income while continuing to search for long-term opportunities.”
Since 2011, the congressional delegation has hosted 25 job fairs in Delaware, of which, this is the third seasonal job fair and seven specifically for veterans. For more information on how to participate in the upcoming job fair as an employer or job seeker please call Senator Coons’ office at 302-573-6345, or email workshop@coons.senate.gov.
 
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                                Job Fair, 
                            
                                
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https://web.archive.org/web/20141001165517/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/statement-of-senator-coons-on-confirmation-of-first-ebola-case-in-the-united-states,Statement of Senator Coons on confirmation of first Ebola case in the United States,2014-09-30,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 30, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Statement of Senator Coons on confirmation of first Ebola case in the United States 
					
					
					
					WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, issued the following statement Tuesday after the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that a patient being treated at a hospital in Dallas, Texas, has tested positive for the Ebola virus – the first case in the United States.
“Ebola is a grave and growing threat to populations in West Africa, where weak health infrastructures have been overwhelmed by this devastating virus. We take it for granted here in the United States that we have strong health care systems, access to clean water, and reliable electricity, but in countries where Ebola has spread exponentially – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea — these basic resources and structures are lacking. 
“Americans need to remain calm and listen to the precautionary measures being suggested by the CDC. Ebola cannot be contracted through the air or the water supply, and requires direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone already infected and exhibiting symptoms. It was only a matter of time before an Ebola case would emerge here in the United States, but as we’re seeing in Dallas today, our public health system has the resources, capabilities, and knowledge to address and contain this virus quickly and safely.
“The U.S. is doing the right thing by stepping up to the growing challenge of combatting the spread of Ebola in West Africa, and developing a vaccine and treatment. Without America’s aggressive and proactive engagement, there is a real threat that this virus might become a global pandemic.”
Earlier this month, after calling for expanded U.S. resources for combatting the spread of Ebola in West Africa, Senator Coons praised President Obama’s announcement of more than $750 million in resources and the planned deployment of 3,000 U.S. military personnel to help medical professionals contain the outbreak. Congress also authorized $58 million in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services to expedite development, testing, and production of a vaccine and treatment.
Additional medical information about Ebola is available from the CDC here:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                Ebola",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141001165515/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/senator-coons-mayor-williams-announce-wilmingtons-selection-by-department-of-justice-for-violence-reduction-network,"Senator Coons, Mayor Williams announce Wilmington’s selection by Department of Justice for Violence Reduction Network",2014-09-29,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 29, 2014
                    CONTACT: Brian Cunningham at 302-573-6054 
					 Senator Coons, Mayor Williams announce Wilmington’s selection by Department of Justice for Violence Reduction Network 
					
					 Violence Reduction Network brings federal resources to local law enforcement 
					
					
					
					WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Wilmington Mayor Dennis P. Williams announced on Monday Wilmington’s selection into the Department of Justice’s new Violence Reduction Network (VRN) program. Wilmington was among just five cities selected to participate in the elite new federal network bringing all of the expertise and experience of the federal government — led by former local police leaders who have reduced crime in their communities — to help cities make their streets safer. Other participating cities include Camden, New Jersey, Chicago, Oakland and Detroit.
In addition to preliminary work VRN representatives have already conducted in partner cities, city representatives will take part in a three-day kickoff summit and will continue the partnership through site visits and virtual conferencing. This is a two year partnership.
“It's everyone's responsibility to try to make our communities safer,"" Senator Coons said. “The city of Wilmington is facing a large task of reducing violence and violent crimes, and the Violence Reduction Network, the brand new program that brings together a number of federal law enforcement agencies with the Wilmington Police Department, will work together in an all hands on deck approach curb violence in Wilmington for the safety and peace of mind for their residents.”  
“I want to thank Senator Coons for his gracious help on getting the Violence Reduction Network to Wilmington as it is something that is greatly needed,” said Mayor Williams. “I sat down with Senator Coons a year ago, and our persistence has paid off. Through the collaborative efforts of the Senator’s Office, the City and other agency stakeholders VRN will hopefully reduce crime in the City of Wilmington.”
The Violence Reduction Network begins today with a summit that will serve as an opportunity for the Department of Justice to convene agencies including ATF, DEA, Executive Office of the United States Attorneys, FBI, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Office of Justice Programs, the Office on Violence Against Women and the United States Marshals Service with local law enforcement agencies.
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                                Department of Justice",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=e85b9117-1a88-4f44-b4c1-c3ced9998494,"Carper, Carney Announce $111,293 for Newark Fire Departments Firefighter Operations and Safety",2014-09-29,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"NEWARK, Del. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and U.S. Representative John Carney (both D-Del.) announced a grant award of $111,293 to help support the operations and safety of firefighters at the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company in Newark. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) grant will allow the company to purchase 40 sets of protective gear, including pants, boots, helmets and coats.
“Firefighters are the first to arrive at emergency scenes in many of our communities and are prepared at every hour of every day to tame blazes, save lives, and protect properties,” said Senator Carper, co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “We have an obligation to protect these brave men and women by providing them with the necessary tools to get the job done and return home to their families unharmed. This grant will help us meet that responsibility and will help ensure that our firefighters in Newark have every advantage to keep themselves and those who they are protecting safe.”
“The hallmark of Delaware first responders is their unfailing willingness to put the safety of others ahead of their own.  Having joined many of them on ridealongs over the years, I know how dedicated they are to protecting our community,” said Congressman Carney, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.  “I also understand how important the right training and equipment is for their protection and safety.  The Assistance to Firefighters Grant announced today will help firefighters in the Aetna Company get the state-of-the-art equipment they need to protect all of us.   It’s an investment that will save lives and make all Delawareans safer.”
The objective of the AFG program is to strengthen the nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and related hazards. The program is part of a federal initiative designed to enhance fire departments and un-affiliated EMS organization’s response capabilities. The funding aims to protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards. Since 2001, the AFG has provided approximately $5.6 billion in grants to first-responder operations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training. This funding was part of round 17 of the FY 2013 Assistance to Firefighters Grants program.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=fa2149e8-9de8-4343-878d-d5f8db4722db,Delaware Works,2014-09-26,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends,
Congress may have taken a break from session in Washington, but I’ve been as busy as ever, spending time in both Delaware and Washington, as I try to make headway on some of our state's and our country's biggest priorities before the year is over. While back home, I’ve had the special opportunity to witness some important and impressive work that Delawareans are doing around the First State.
Last week, I visited the Delaware City Refinery, where I saw the process of crude oil being unloaded off the rail cars. The refinery employs some innovative and hardworking Delawareans, whose day-to-day work makes an impact on Americans across the country.
The Delaware Fire School – with locations in all three counties - provides fire, rescue, emergency medical training and public fire safety education to the fire and rescue service, as well as to industry and citizens of Delaware. The First State is honored to have these men and women protecting us each and every day, and this school provides first-class training to the brave Delawareans responsible for keeping us safe.
Finally, I had the chance to see the Wilmington skyline like I’ve never seen it before: from the top of the Delaware Memorial Bridge! I met with the painters who keep the bridge beautiful. It was incredible to see the meticulous work they do to paint the bridge and prevent corrosion. The Delaware Memorial Bridge is dedicated to veterans who gave their lives in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. It is a source of great pride and that’s not lost on anyone working there.
As I continue my travels throughout the First State this fall, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to see more of the important work going on in Delaware. Do you know of people who are doing great work in Delaware? I invite you to tell me about it on Twitter using the hashtag #DelawareWorks.  Working hard for you,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=2ae5b73b-7761-491c-b4a7-cfb6912353e7,ILC Dover cuts the ribbon on a new test facility in Frederica,2014-09-26,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"FREDERICA, Del. – Today, ILC Dover opened a new, state-of-the-art test facility in that will be used to test technology and products for homeland security and municipal infrastructure protection.
The Security component of the facility is funded by the Department of Homeland Security and will be used to test the Resilient Tunnel Plug technology. Novel spin-off technologies for flood protection and mitigation will be tested in a second section of the facility which has been funded by ILC Dover. The Resilient Tunnel Plug program is a Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate effort to provide security to transit systems as protection from flooding in the event of a terrorist attack. The test facility is a full-scale model of a subway tunnel and was originally designed and built for DHS by West Virginia University for testing tunnel plug technologies. The initial test facility hardware was relocated to ILC Dover’s Frederica facility where the development, construction and modification of the test facility to support the efforts of developing the tunnel plug and spin-off flood mitigation technologies was finalized.
“In 2008, we were approached by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to help with an effort to support our nation’s security,” said ILC Dover President Fran DiNuzzo. “They approached us with the idea of designing a large plug that would hold back 30 feet of water inside a tunnel in the unfortunate event of a terrorist attack. Since that time we have enjoyed a great working relationship with the team at the Department of Homeland Security and the result of these efforts is the Resilient Tunnel Plug security system that protects American lives and our infrastructure.  In addition, following Superstorm Sandy in October of 2012, we were able to leverage lessons learned from this program and work with the City of New York to develop a series of novel Flood Protection Systems that can protect national and international transit operations. New York City represents the first round of this business expansion with protection against the threats of flooding due to storm events and global warming.”
“The creativity and ingenuity of our partners at ILC Dover, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and West Virginia University have developed and tested several prototypes of this unique inflatable tunnel plug technology,” said DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology Reginald Brothers. “Through their efforts and continued hard work, the nation's transportation systems will be more resilient to terrorist threats and natural disasters.”
“I am proud of our first-class workforce and the exciting things going on right here in the First State,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, (D-Del.). “The important and potentially life-saving work being done at ILC Dover is a great example of this. This also shows how partnerships between government, business and education have the potential to yield results that can impact not only the safety of our country, but the economy as well. I am thrilled to see this work going on right here in Delaware.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=2d05b47a-9c59-494e-812c-433087f70b91,My Bill to Better Serve Veterans & Taxpayers,2014-09-23,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends,

Earlier this year we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the original G.I. Bill and reflected on this landmark legislation that sent millions of veterans to our nation’s colleges and universities. But even as we honored its history, we recognized some of the challenges facing the current generation of veterans returning to the classroom.
In the past five years, 40 percent of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill tuition benefits have gone to for-profit colleges, even as questions continue to be raised about for-profit institutions’ graduation, default, and job placement rates. While not every for-profit school is a bad actor, I believe that one veteran mistreated at a for-profit school is one veteran too many.
To give you an example, the for-profit chain Corinthian Colleges—which received $186 million in Post-9/11 G.I. Bill dollars—just announced it is selling or closing 107 campuses nationwide due to financial problems, leaving many veteran graduates wondering what value their degree will hold. It’s another glaring reminder that Congress must remain diligent to protect military and veteran students, as well as taxpayers.
 


As it turns out, there’s a loophole in the law that allows for-profit schools to receive 100 percent of their funding from the federal government. Some bad actors are exploiting this loophole by aggressively recruiting veterans and G.I Bill tuition dollars, rather than obtaining 10 percent of their revenue from non-federal sources. It’s called the 90/10 loophole.
I’m a big proponent of using common sense to address problems. That’s why this week I introduced  a piece of legislation called the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act that would close the 90/10 loophole and encourage for-profit schools to better serve veterans and taxpayers. Closing the 90/10 loophole is a common sense approach that demonstrates we’re serious about improving education outcomes for our veterans.
I know the impact that education can have for veterans. I attended graduate school at the University of Delaware thanks to the G.I. Bill and it fundamentally changed my life. I want other veterans to be able to do the same with the confidence that they’re investing their time and benefits wisely. That's why I introduced this bill and why I’ll continue to look for ways to protect the military, veterans, and taxpayers from bad actors in the for-profit sector.
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140920000136/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/senators-coons-collins-rockefeller-and-isakson-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-spur-innovation-create-jobs-in-sustainable-chemistry,"Senators Coons, Collins, Rockefeller and Isakson introduce bipartisan bill to spur innovation, create jobs in sustainable chemistry",2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 19, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Senators Coons, Collins, Rockefeller and Isakson introduce bipartisan bill to spur innovation, create jobs in sustainable chemistry 
					
					 Legislation would support research to keep America competitive and benefit human health and the environment 
					
					
					
					WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) on Thursday introduced a bipartisan bill to spur innovation in the field of sustainable chemistry. The Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act would encourage the development and commercialization of high-performing chemicals, products, and processes that reduce or eliminate risk to human health and benefit the environment. Sustainable chemistry is an exciting field that can create jobs, keep America competitive, and spur economic growth.
“Spurring innovation to create good jobs and protect our health and environment should bring us all together,” said Senator Coons. “We can do much more to develop new ways to ensure the things all around us – from our laundry detergent to our shoes – are produced in a way that maintains their high quality and benefits our health and our planet. By creating a cohesive vision for our nation’s sustainable chemistry research and building new partnerships with the private sector, the bipartisan Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act is an exciting opportunity to create jobs, maintain our scientific leadership, and make America healthier and cleaner. Both parties can unite behind American health and competitiveness, and I look forward to working hard, together, to see our efforts through.”
“This bill promotes research, development and education programs to develop chemical processes that minimize the impact to our environment, and that can often end up saving companies money at the same time,"" said Senator Collins. “By helping encourage innovation in ‘sustainable chemistry’ through improved coordination on research, development, and commercialization, this bill will benefit public health and the environment while educating the next generation of chemistry professionals.""
“I am excited to join Senators Coons, Collins, and Isakson in this effort to promote sustainable chemistry,” said Senator Rockefeller. “I know how important it is to develop effective chemicals that minimize hazards to human health and to the environment. By coordinating Federal research efforts in this area, the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2014 will support the American ingenuity needed to help make our industries safer and more efficient, and to stay globally competitive.”
The Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act would support sustainable chemistry research, development, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training through federal grants and loans, targeted studies, partnerships with industry, and interagency coordination. Importantly, the bill does not include any regulatory components, nor does it authorize new spending. Its goal, rather, is to increase and coordinate federal activities in sustainable chemistry and encourage the private sector, academia, nonprofits, and the general public to innovate, develop, and bring to market innovative sustainable chemistry products and processes. 
“The Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA) is committed to fostering sustainable innovation among key stakeholders in the public, private and academic sectors,” said Lori Palmer, President and Board Chair, DESCA. We believe efforts that will incentivize research and development in new technology will enhance economic development. DESCA fully supports the Sustainable Chemistry Act of 2014 as legislation necessary for growing sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship and creating high wage jobs.”
“I commend you for introducing this forward-looking bill, which will improve federal coordination and dissemination of green chemistry R&D and facilitate increased federal investment in this area,” said American Chemical Society President Tom Barton, “Your legislation will strengthen the government’s role as a true partner in promoting greener technologies. Such an interagency approach will broaden the focus of green chemistry R&D and make it more attractive to industry sectors.” 
“EDF applauds Senator Coons for his leadership in promoting sustainable chemistry research and development,” said Richard Denison, Lead Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund. “As we work to ensure that the chemicals in our homes, consumer products, and workplaces are safe for people and for the environment, we need to build our society’s capacity to develop and commercialize safer chemical innovations.”
The legislation is supported by the American Chemistry Council (ACC); the American Chemical Society (ACS); the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) Action Fund; the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA); the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF); the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3); the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR); The Renewable Chemicals and Materials Alliance (re:chem); Ashland; Dow Chemical; DuPont; Musea Ventures; Simply Sustain LLC; White Dog Labs; and Dr. Paul Anastas, Yale Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering.
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                Innovation",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140920000146/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/united-states-senate-pledges-support-for-fight-to-contain-ebola-outbreak-and-save-lives,United States Senate pledges support for fight to contain Ebola outbreak and save lives,2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 19, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 United States Senate pledges support for fight to contain Ebola outbreak and save lives 
					
					 Unanimously passes bipartisan resolution supporting those affected by humanitarian crisis 
					
					
					
					WASHINGTON – The United States Senate this week recognized the severe threat posed by the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and offered its support for robust efforts to combat the virus and provide humanitarian relief for those affected. In a resolution adopted unanimously Thursday night, the Senate recognized the support provided by the United States government, African partners, the United Nations, World Health Organization, and the international community to confront Ebola, as well as the additional U.S. commitment recently announced by President Obama. 
U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), chair and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, introduced the resolution with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
“The Ebola virus is spreading now at an exponential rate, and the humanitarian crisis gripping West Africa clearly needs a global response,” Senator Coons said. “The United States Senate this week expressed its support with those who have been affected by Ebola and solidarity with those who are doing everything they can to fight it. This is a grave and growing crisis with the potential to spread well beyond West Africa. It cannot be resolved without the strong support and resources of the United States, and I strongly welcome the deepening of our commitment to Ebola response in the critical weeks and months ahead.” 
“We need to send a message to the people of West Africa that we will help them combat this deadly epidemic, and to the rest of the world that the U.S. is ready to lead this effort,” Senator Flake said. “I hope passage of this resolution, coming on the heels of the president's announcement earlier this week, will do just that.”
“The world is facing the worst Ebola outbreak in history,” Senator Menendez said. “The disease is ravaging West Africa—claiming thousands of lives, undermining trade and food security, and threatening regional stability.  As the epidemic spirals, we are witnessing a devastating human toll.  By passing this resolution, Senators acted to bring awareness to the terrible impact of this deadly virus and the importance of stopping its spread now, before more lives are lost.  We also approved the nomination of Dr. Tom Frieden, current Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as the U.S. representative on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, which is leading the international response.  The passage of the Continuing Resolution included an additional $88 million to help U.S. agencies continue to fight.  I welcome American leadership this week to dramatically scale up our own response, as outlined by President Obama, as well as intensified efforts announced today by the United Nations to turn the tide through a dedicated emergency health mission. Controlling and preventing Ebola overseas is the most effective way to save lives in Africa and protect Americans at home.”
“The U.S. has a vital role to play in leading the global response to defeat this deadly outbreak that is growing increasingly difficult to contain,” Senator Corker said. “The international intervention needs to be scaled up to meet the scope of this challenge as research for new therapies and vaccines continues.” 
“The United States and the international community must stand together to help those stricken by Ebola in West Africa and to protect against the spread of this deadly virus to our own shores,” Senator Durbin said. “President Obama has wisely mobilized the best of our American expertise and generosity to help, and Congress stands ready to provide additional funding to help stem the tide of this terrible scourge.” 
The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
The text of the resolution follows:
S.Res.541
Recognizing the severe threat that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa poses to populations, governments, and economies across Africa and, if not properly contained, to regions across the globe, and expressing support for those affected by this epidemic.
Whereas Ebola hemorrhagic fever is an extremely infectious virus that causes severe illness with a fatality rate that can well exceed 50 percent;
Whereas Ebola is spread through contact with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids of infected humans and animals and can have an incubation period of up to 21 days;
Whereas the Ebola virus first appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1976 and has afflicted communities in Africa at least 20 times since then;
Whereas the current Ebola outbreak first occurred in February 2014 in forested areas of southeastern Guinea and subsequently spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently discovered the outbreak of a separate strain of the virus;
Whereas this is the first outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and the biggest and most complex to date, due to its emergence in populated, transient border areas, making containment a significant challenge;
Whereas, to date, according to the Center for Disease Control, Ebola had infected more than 4,400 people in West Africa and caused nearly 2,300 confirmed deaths;
Whereas the current Ebola outbreak has occurred in countries with some of the weakest health systems in the world facing severe shortages of healthcare workers, laboratories essential for testing and diagnosis, clinics and hospitals required for treatment, and medical supplies and protective gear, such as latex gloves and face masks required to prevent contamination of health facilities;
Whereas these weak and inadequate healthcare facilities, a lack of health staff trained in Ebola response, and misconceptions about the virus have resulted in numerous infections of health workers and patients unable to receive appropriate response and care;
Whereas effective countermeasures for stemming the spread of Ebola, such as isolation, meticulous infection control practices, case investigation, and contact tracing require more trained personnel and resources than are currently available in West Africa;
Whereas, although Ebola can be contained with good public health and burial practices, it continues to spread due to a lack of accurate public information, insufficient treatment facilities, limited local language capacities required for health education, and an unwillingness to allow those infected to be isolated from family members;
Whereas governments are collaborating closely with international donors and taking strong measures to contain the virus, including announcing states of emergency and establishing emergency response centers;
Whereas the limitations on transportation and travel and closing of businesses have had a devastating economic impact throughout the region and may cause social instability and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis if not properly managed and offset;
Whereas the international community has committed to support solutions to the current limitations on air traffic and establish a common operational platform to address acute problems associated with food security, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, primary and secondary health care, and education, as well as the longer-term recovery effort that will be needed in the face of the complex social consequences of this emergency;
Whereas the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda have sent experts familiar with such outbreaks to Liberia to assist with the outbreak response, and the Governments of Senegal and Ghana have agreed to serve as logistics and coordination centers for the international assistance effort, providing vital corridors for supplies and personnel;
Whereas, after visiting affected communities in West Africa, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden said on September 2, 2014, “There is a window of opportunity to tamp this down, but that window is closing...we need action now to scale up the response.”;
Whereas the United States Government has provided more than $175,000,000 in support through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Agency for International Development, the World Health Organization, and the United States Armed Forces since February 2014 and intends to mobilize additional resources and support as announced by President Obama on September 16, 2014;
Whereas the United States Government helped to fund the development of the Zmapp biopharmaceutical experimental drug that was given to United States health workers afflicted with the virus and was recently donated to Liberian doctors with encouraging effect and has prompted calls for further research and development of such vaccines;
Whereas, on August 5, 2014, the United States Government deployed a multi-agency Disaster Assistance Response Team composed of staff from Federal agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Forest Service to coordinate the United States Government’s response efforts;
Whereas the World Health Organization published on August 28, 2014, a roadmap for scaled-up response that aims to stop the virus in 6 to 9 months and calls for 750 international and 12,000 local health workers to contribute to the halt of the Ebola outbreak; and
Whereas, earlier this year, the United States Government joined with partner governments, the World Health Organization, other multilateral organizations, and nongovernmental actors to launch the Global Health Security Agenda, a 5-year commitment to prevent, detect, and effectively respond to infectious disease threats such as Ebola: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) recognizes the severe immediate threat that Ebola poses to populations, governments, and economies in Africa;
(2) recognizes that the limited capacity of the initial outbreak countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia to combat the epidemic has been exhausted and the potential threat to regions beyond Africa if this, the largest of all Ebola outbreaks, is not contained;
(3) expresses support for those affected by this epidemic and affirms its sympathy for victims of Ebola and their families;
(4) supports the Governments of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for their ongoing efforts to combat the Ebola virus in their countries and regionally;
(5) urges citizens of affected countries to respect preventative guidelines provided by their governments and medical professionals from Africa and around the world in order to stem the outbreak;
(6) supports the work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of State, the Forest Service, and other United States Government agencies providing technical, logistical, and material support to address the Ebola crisis in West Africa;
(7) encourages deepened United States and international commitments to the global Ebola response;
(8) welcomes the delivery of assistance and increased engagement from donors such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Government of Canada;
(9) expresses support for the promotion of investments in global health in order to ensure that governments can better prevent and detect, contain, and eventually eliminate outbreaks of disease while also providing other essential health services;
(10) supports the World Health Organization’s Ebola Response Roadmap and a common operational platform in response to the crisis;
(11) encourages the Governments of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone to work together and with other nations and regional and subregional organizations to establish institutional emergency response systems to more effectively respond to this and future outbreaks of Ebola and other highly infectious diseases;
(12) welcomes proactive measures taken by governments in West Africa to formulate national plans of action in response to the crisis; and
(13) recognizes the work of thousands of African, United States, and international officials and volunteers on the ground in West Africa, particularly healthcare workers, who are working diligently and at great risk to help address this multidimensional crisis, and encourages other healthcare workers and logisticians to volunteer.
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                United Nations",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140920005511/http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/senators-coons-graham-and-cardin-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-increase-private-investment-in-global-maternal-and-child-health-programs,"Senators Coons, Graham, and Cardin introduce bipartisan bill to increase private investment in global maternal and child-health programs",2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Christopher Coons,C001088,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 19, 2014
                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 
					 Senators Coons, Graham, and Cardin introduce bipartisan bill to increase private investment in global maternal and child-health programs 
					
					 Bipartisan bill aims to expand access to maternal and child health programs through innovative financing mechanisms that could lower the cost of funding maternal and child health programs 
					
					
					
					WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced legislation on Thursday to create innovative financing mechanisms, such as new development impact bonds, aimed at increasing private-sector investment in maternal and child health programs in developing countries. The Accelerating Action in Maternal and Child Health Act is an innovative concept centered on the notion that even a small early investment in the care of a mother or child will reduce healthcare costs over the long term.
According to the World Health Organization, 6.6 million children under the age of 5 die each year from preventable or treatable causes, and more than 800 women die every day from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The overwhelming majority of these deaths occur in the developing world, and countries in Africa have the highest burden. 
“Even after impressive progress in the quality of health care being offered to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children in some of the poorest parts of the world, it’s clear that more help is needed,” Senator Coons said. “We need to be investing more in USAID’s remarkable public health work. America’s foreign assistance needs to evolve and innovate to meet today’s challenges and respect our nation’s fiscal limitations. Innovative financing mechanisms like development bonds are a creative way to get the private sector more involved in global health and reduce the cost to taxpayers. This bill will help us help more young families survive and stay healthy.” Senator Coons chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs.
“Over the past two decades, child mortality has been reduced by nearly 50 percent and maternal mortality has been reduced by 40 percent, thanks in large part to United States Government action and intervention,"" Senator Graham said. ""In the last three years, 24 priority countries — 10 of which are in Africa — have achieved an 8 percent reduction in under-5 mortality, saving 500,000 lives. This legislation is an innovative way to accelerate this trend.""
“Substantial U.S. investment in maternal and child health — both in the U.S. and around the globe — has saved millions of lives and delivered extraordinary results,” Senator Cardin said. “In the 24 countries where USAID focuses on maternal and child health, we have reduced the number of preventable child and maternal deaths by half. But we cannot stop now. This bill ensures that our cost-effective and life-saving interventions can continue into the future.” Senator Cardin chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
The Accelerating Action in Maternal and Child Health Act calls on USAID to establish a strategy to prevent maternal and child deaths in 24 priority countries in the developing world, and authorizes the design and establishment of innovative financing mechanisms. For example, USAID and private donors around the world would purchase the bonds with funds provided either to the host country or to the NGO administering the health program. Host governments or donors would pay the interest back on the bonds. As private-sector investment grows, the need for U.S. government investment would decline.
“There is tremendous momentum on improving maternal, newborn, and child health worldwide, and we want to keep moving forward,” said Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network. “Too many children die on the day of their birth and too many women’s lives continue to be cut short every day from causes that are entirely preventable. It is clear we need to do more.”           
According to the World Health Organization, the leading causes of maternal mortality in low-income countries are post-partum bleeding, infection, and hypertension. Amongst newborns, the leading causes are infections, premature birth, and asphyxia, and amongst children under age 5, the leading causes are respiratory infections (commonly from pneumonia), diarrhea, and malaria. Malnutrition is the underlying contributing factor in about 45 percent of all child deaths, making children more vulnerable to severe diseases.
					
					
                    
        
        
		
                    
						
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                                Children",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140920214205/http://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-newsletter?ContentRecord_id=dcb0bdc4-4fe3-4da4-81e8-f177bcbe77d4,My Bill to Better Serve Veterans and Taxpayers,2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"September 19, 2014
Dear Friends,
Earlier this year we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the original G.I. Bill and reflected on this landmark legislation that sent millions of veterans to our nation’s colleges and universities. But even as we honored its history, we recognized some of the challenges facing the current generation of veterans returning to the classroom.
 In the past five years, 40 percent of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill tuition benefits have gone to for-profit colleges, even as questions continue to be raised about for-profit institutions’ graduation, default, and job placement rates. While not every for-profit school is a bad actor, I believe that one veteran mistreated at a for-profit school is one veteran too many.
 To give you an example, the for-profit chain Corinthian Colleges—which received $186 million in Post-9/11 G.I. Bill dollars—just announced it is selling or closing 107 campuses nationwide due to financial problems, leaving many veteran graduates wondering what value their degree will hold. It’s another glaring reminder that Congress must remain diligent to protect military and veteran students, as well as taxpayers.
 
 As it turns out, there’s a loophole in the law that allows for-profit schools to receive 100 percent of their funding from the federal government. Some bad actors are exploiting this loophole by aggressively recruiting veterans and G.I Bill tuition dollars, rather than obtaining 10 percent of their revenue from non-federal sources. It’s called the 90/10 loophole.
 I’m a big proponent of using common sense to address problems. That’s why this week I introduced  a piece of legislation called the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act that would close the 90/10 loophole and encourage for-profit schools to better serve veterans and taxpayers. Closing the 90/10 loophole is a common sense approach that demonstrates we’re serious about improving education outcomes for our veterans.
 I know the impact that education can have for veterans. I attended graduate school at the University of Delaware thanks to the G.I. Bill and it fundamentally changed my life. I want other veterans to be able to do the same with the confidence that they’re investing their time and benefits wisely. That's why I introduced this bill and why I’ll continue to look for ways to protect the military, veterans, and taxpayers from bad actors in the for-profit sector.
 Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/otherstatements?ContentRecord_id=f64ab89c-9fcf-4397-a1ef-a02840f01be1,Sen. Carper Statement on Senate Passage of Measure to Fund the Government and Support President's Plan to Confront ISIS,2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after voting for the bill to fund the government and authorize President Obama to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 73 to 22 and heads to the president for his signature.
 “Last week, the president outlined a course for our nation and our allies to reverse the expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), dismantle and degrade its ability to threaten the region, and enable the people who live in those regions to reclaim their lives. This evening, I voted with a bipartisan majority of my colleagues to authorize the president to move forward with a segment of this plan, specifically to provide him with the authority to help train and equip moderate Syrian rebels to defend against ISIS.
“ISIS is a ruthless and murderous group that has brutally beheaded two American journalists. Today’s vote as well as the president’s warnings, sends a strong and clear message that the United States will not allow these militants to continue their campaign of senseless violence and oppression of those who disagree with their worldview.
“While training rebel forces is an important piece of the plan, effectively addressing the threat from ISIS will require a multifaceted strategy. That strategy includes a military component and the development of a broad international coalition to execute it, but will not include combat troops on the ground. Like the president said, the goal of this approach is to take out ISIS wherever it exists and ensure that the terrorist group does not establish a long-term safe haven from which it can launch attacks against either our allies or our homeland. I hope all of my colleagues in Congress will embrace and support this effort moving forward. As the president’s plan is implemented, I expect that my colleagues and I in Congress will continue to debate this critical issue and exercise our oversight, as necessary.
“This measure came as part of a larger package to fund our government through the beginning of December. I have long been critical of short-term funding patches that keep us from governing strategically and making smart investments in our future. I supported this bill because I believe we must support the president to confront ISIS and we have a responsibility to keep the government from a shutdown. But we should not pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. When the Senate reconvenes in November, I sincerely hope we can return to a more responsible way of governing. Between now and then I will continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find long-term, principled compromises that address the most pressing issues facing our nation.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=0df755dd-7557-4ca2-9515-b668156c9be4,"New Report Finds Completion of DHS Consolidation Project at St. Elizabeths Important to National Security, Government's Fiscal Outlook",2014-09-19,2014,2014-09,Democrat,House,DE,Thomas Carper,C000174,www.carper.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – The completion of a consolidated Department of Homeland Security headquarters project at the St. Elizabeths West campus would improve our nation’s homeland security and save the federal government almost $1 billion, according to a new report released by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper. Read the full report here: “Security and Savings: The Importance of Consolidating the Department of Homeland Security’s Headquarters at St. Elizabeths.” 
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Congress passed the Homeland Security Act. The law pulled together 22 different agencies to form the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to foster a more unified and coordinated effort to defend our homeland. In 2006, the Bush administration proposed consolidating more than 50 DHS offices, many onto the St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast Washington, D.C. Construction began in 2009 but has significantly slowed in the face of inconsistent and inadequate funding from Congress.
Today, DHS still operates out of more than 50 separate facilities in the Washington, D.C. region, many of which are physically inadequate. The current infrastructure used to house DHS has made it much more difficult to implement the vision behind the Homeland Security Act and create the collaborative approach envisioned.
“In an era of shrinking budgets and economic uncertainty, figuring out which priorities to fund can be difficult,” said Chairman Carper. “It may be easier to cut long-term investments that have yet to bear fruit than to make tough decisions about other pressing priorities. However, as this report concludes, completing a consolidated headquarters for the Department will not only save nearly a billion taxpayer dollars, it will help our nation better prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other disasters. Given its importance, the St. Elizabeths DHS consolidation project should remain a funding priority, and Congress and the Administration should come together on a plan to move forward with the project.”
The report, which draws from interviews with the Department’s former Secretaries—Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, and Janet Napolitano - and other top former Department officials, agency documents, and independent analysis found that Department at St. Elizabeths will improve DHS’s ability to carry out its mission. Specifically, consolidation would:
 
Improve crisis management: DHS’s infrastructure has hindered crisis management and prevented personnel from easily collaborating. A consolidated DHS headquarters will make it easier for DHS personnel to meet, collaborate, and interact long before a crisis.
Foster unity of effort: Few of the DHS missions fall on the shoulders of just one agency or component. The Department will more effectively carry out its mission if its components are working together in one location and complementing one another’s strengths and abilities;
Improve morale and productivity: Well-designed and well-maintained facilities can not only improve morale, but also foster increased collaboration. Some Department of Homeland Security facilities, particularly those located at the Nebraska Avenue Complex, have subpar working conditions. For example, a recent issue with cleanliness and a rat infestation required closing the cafeteria;
Reduce management challenges and travel inefficiencies: The continued development of St. Elizabeths and the consolidation of DHS from more than 50 facilities to 20 or fewer will reduce inefficiencies, freeing more resources for operations and giving senior officials more time to manage the Department and coordinate across components.
 
The report also found that finishing the consolidated DHS headquarters makes good fiscal sense, saving as much as a billion dollars over the next 30 years.
 
The federal government would save nearly $700 million over 30 years by completing and moving DHS into a consolidated headquarters on a campus already owned by the government instead of renting equivalent space. 
New standards that would fit more employees in office space could allow DHS to save as much as $210 million more.
Other cost avoidances include the estimated $132 million it would cost to maintain St. Elizabeths over the next 30 years (a historic property the federal government owns and must maintain) and overhead costs that can be cut due to administrative and operations efficiencies gained by the consolidation.
 
Based on these conclusions, the report recommends:
 
Congress should fund the President’s fiscal year 2015 budget requests of $323 million combined for GSA and DHS to complete renovation of the St. Elizabeths Center Building Complex and provide necessary access road improvements. If this money is not appropriated it will leave the next phase of construction—the building for the Secretary and leadership staff—practicably unusable, wasting the $348 million already spent or appropriated for that building and forcing DHS to renew short-term leases.
 
 
The Administration and Congress must continue to work together to implement more consolidation of the Department and its components at the St. Elizabeths campus as we move forward after fiscal year 2015. A revised plan is necessary to ensure the St. Elizabeths project is well managed and implemented. Congress must work to consistently and adequately fund the plan and engage in oversight to make sure the plan is managed appropriately. The St. Elizabeths project is important and must be done the right way.
 
Read the full report here: “Security and Savings: The Importance of Consolidating the Department of Homeland Security’s Headquarters at St. Elizabeths.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z