Senator Coons discusses impact of U.S. global leadership on Delaware at Wilmington conference

WILMINGTON, Del. - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) hosted and participated in three different panels at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's (USGLC) annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit at the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington today. The half-day forum brought business, community, and foreign policy leaders together to discuss how America's diplomacy and development assistance strengthens U.S. national security and has a positive impact on Delaware's residents and small businesses.

"Today's Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit highlighted how Delaware is interconnected with the rest of the world, and how our state has a role to play in critical global challenges from world hunger to climate change," said Senator Coons. "I was thrilled to convene leaders from across our state, country, and world in Wilmington to discuss how Delaware's industry and ingenuity advance our national security and promote American interests abroad. Our state and nation benefit from stronger ties to partners around the world, and the only way to build a stronger future is to do so together."

"I am grateful to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and Senator Chris Coons for bringing these critical conversations to Delaware, and to all of these regional leaders for sharing their insights," said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). "For the United States to remain a world leader, we must make the right investments in our domestic and global priorities. That's why forums such as today's are so crucial - because it gives us an opportunity to come together to talk about how we can expand critical development and diplomacy programs while creating good-paying jobs at home and abroad. I look forward to continuing to work with the stakeholders at this summit to foster a safer, stronger, and more prosperous world."

"It's a distinct honor to be in Wilmington today for USGLC's seventh annual Mid-Atlantic Summit - not only with hundreds of leaders from across the business, veteran, and nonprofit communities - but with Senator Chris Coons, whose remarkable leadership in the U.S. Senate and around the world is delivering for America and for Delaware," said Liz Schrayer, President and CEO, USGLC. "His leading voice, alongside Congresswoman Blunt Rochester and Senator [Tom] Carper [D-Del.], could not be more important for why investing in development and diplomacy matters for the security and economic interest of Delaware families. As just one example of Senator Coons' extraordinary leadership, just this past week, the Senator was instrumental in securing $9 billion in critical humanitarian assistance that will literally save millions of lives. This is a big deal."

The two-part first panel, "Investing in Africa's Economic Security," focused on economic development in Africa and identifying opportunities for Africa's youth to engage and lead. The conversations, moderated by Liz Schrayer, President and CEO, USGLC, also featured Runa Alam, CEO of Development Partners International; Scott Nathan, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; Candi Wolff, Executive Vice President, Global Government Affairs at Citi; Patrick Gaspard, CEO of the Center for American Progress; and Mary Maker, a U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador.

The second panel, "Foreign Policy Trends to Watch - Combating Climate Change," focused on how diplomacy and development programs are driving global climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and sustainability. The conversation, moderated by Collin O'Mara, Co-Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), and President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation, also featured Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez of the U.S. Department of State and Yushan Yan, CEO of Versogen and Founding Director of the UD Center for Clean Hydrogen.

The third panel, "A New Model: Tackling the Global Food Security Crisis," focused on finding solutions to food insecurity in a time of unparalleled world hunger. The conversation, moderated by Martha Raddatz, Chief Global Affairs Correspondent, ABC News, featured David Beasley, former Executive Director, U.N. World Food Programme; Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States; and Brian Sikes, Chair, CEO, and President, Cargill.

The event also featured Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D); Matt Meyer (D), County Executive, New Castle County; and Kathryn Wengel, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Operations and Risk Officer at Johnson & Johnson.