Thousands of properties in Southern Delaware are already at risk from chronic flooding in the near future, even if they’re miles from our coastline. With a bipartisan group of colleagues, I helped secure $47 billion for flood resilience and prevention in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and now I’m leading another bipartisan group of senators to pass the National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act to ensure that the federal government engages all stakeholders — including the American Flood Coalition — to build more stronger communities. I’m looking ahead to further work to deliver bipartisan solutions on climate action that will protect land, water, wildlife and our most vulnerable communities.
Senator Chris Coons represents Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
Mr. Coons grew up in Hockessin, Delaware, before studying chemistry and political science at Amherst College, where he was named a Truman Scholar. He went on to earn a M.A. in ethics from Yale Divinity School and a J.D. from Yale Law School. After clerking at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Coons joined Delaware-based Gore & Associates as a practicing attorney in 1996.
Mr. Coons served as President of the New Castle County Council from 2001-2005, then as New Castle County Executive from 2005-2010. In 2010, he won a special election to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate, and was subsequently reelected in 2014 and 2020.
In the 117th Congress, Senator Coons serves on the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, and as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He also serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.
Senator Coons has championed efforts to deliver a unified strategic vision for the federal response to rising seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding. His bipartisan National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act would establish a Chief Resilience Officer in the White House to coordinate cross-governmental planning and preparation for extreme weather while ensuring equitable support for historically underserved, frontline communities.
Mr. Coons lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with his wife, Annie. They have three children.
The American Flood Coalition is an IRS Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The American Flood Coalition is not a Congressional Membership Organization and nothing on this website shall be read to imply official sponsorship by either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate or any of their respective Members. Federal Champion is an honorary title awarded by the American Flood Coalition to recognize Members of Congress who have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.
