Senator Coons's talk focuses on how, despite the abysmal gap between the two parties, and the 13% approval rating of Congress (less popular than cockroaches and root canals!), the ability to work with members from across the aisle never disappears -- it sometimes just becomes more difficult. But his true pleasure, we sense from this talk, comes from his service to constituents who reach out to him for help, which he happily provides.

Chris Coons was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 following terms as New Castle County Council President and New Castle County Executive. In the Senate, Chris sits on the Appropriations, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics Committees. Before serving as County Executive, Chris worked as an attorney for Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates. As a law student, Chris founded the first Delaware chapter of the “I Have a Dream” Foundation, which helps low-income students make the academic journey from elementary school through college. Chris graduated from Amherst College with a B.A. in Chemistry and Political Science, and earned his law degree from Yale Law School and a Master’s in Ethics from Yale Divinity School.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx