Chris Coons

The most successful small businesses in the United States are able to do that by expanding out from the U.S. market and identifying foreign markets that they can be competitive in and sell their goods and services to.

I very much look forward to testimony from the U.S. Department of Commerce at that hearing, as well as other Government agencies critical to our developing trade relationship with Africa and the private sector.

Both of us come out of the private sector, come from States that are known for their economic dynamism, and are grateful for the opportunity to engage in our home States with the diaspora community, with our private sectors, with those who…

Members of the EAC have great potential to develop their power sector, and power is one of the major impediments to trade and investment and primarily investment in Africa.

Thank you, Ms. Liser.

Thanks to you Chairman Coons and to Senator Isakson for attending the forum and meeting with the Ministers to discuss AGOA and pending legislation.

I commend Secretary Carson on his many initiatives and his efforts that he has made.

Today, we will explore Africa's vast economic potential, both for U.S. businesses and investors and as a means of sustainable development.

I was disappointed to recently hear they were going to be withdrawn.

I am pleased to convene today's hearing of the African Affairs Subcommittee, entitled 'Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa's Market Potential.'

We and other state partner organizations have worked closely with Senator Coons of Delaware in developing consensus language on innovative grants.

We need to, I think, be vigorous and engaged in preventing disenfranchisement of those who are eligible to vote, who are entitled to vote, and who we want to vote by restrictive ID laws.

I also understand there has been more active, in some cases more aggressive, use of challengers at polling places that seem to be specifically targeted at raising concerns or fears amongst those voting in particular districts or areas.

The good old-fashioned practices of voter misinformation and voter suppression through flyers or hand-distributed leaflets have continued in the modern age.

The Help America Vote Act, the ability to vote on a provisional ballot, this process of challengers at polls and demanding identification and proof of citizenship and so forth, the argument for why that is legitimate or necessary activity…

Well, as you move through the final rulemaking processes, I just want to close by urging you to be bold, striking a fair balance, that it respects small inventors and making sure that they have access to a fair and appropriate process as…

Do you have the authority you need to explore further initiatives?

Thank you, Chairman Leahy, and thank you, Director Kappos, for the very strong leadership you have provided to the Patent and Trademark Office.

Well, given how long it takes for you to break in and develop the proficiency of examiners, that makes great sense to me.

I was encouraged by your testimony previously to Senator Feinstein about a goal to reduce pendency to 18 months.

Would you comment on whether the duty imposed in this proposed disclosure fairness bill to use due diligence to discover exculpatory evidence that was reasonably available to the prosecutor, would that, in fact, expand the duty of the…

I think this Committee could play a role in oversight and just communicating that, you know, if the Department wants to prove that it is capable of self-regulation, the Committee is going to want to see progress on those fronts.

I mean, Congress knows better than anybody the importance of passing a law, not to catch the law breakers but to prevent the law breakers.

Mr. Cole testified that Brady should not be augmented by statute and pointed to the very extensive training the Department of Justice has put in place.

I would like to state that, without objection, we will enter into the record a number of letters that Senator Murkowski had asked be put into the record.