NEWARK, New Jersey, June 9 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, hosted a virtual town hall discussion on the upcoming Farm Bill -- a package of federal legislation shaping the nation's agriculture and food policy that passes once every five years -- and its impact on New Jersey's farmers, workers, and consumers in urban and rural co  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and a letter: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with 27 Senate colleagues, expressed their concerns to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power about Uganda's "Anti-Homosexuality Act," which was recently si  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) reintroduced the bicameral, bipartisan legislation to end the outdated Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP), which strips justice-involved individuals of their Medicaid coverage, passing the cost on to counties and states. The Humane Correctional Health Care Actwould help disrupt th  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 6, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Alma Adams (D-NC), and Jim McGovern (D-MD) introduced the bicameral Office of Small Farms Establishment Act, legislation to create a new Office of Small Farms at the US Department of Agriculture. The Office would directly serve small farmers with grants and technical assistance and ensure that all US  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, posted the following news release from June 1, 2023: Yesterday, Congressman Van Drew voted NO on the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which did not live up to conservative expectations set with the passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act. "I truly appreciate the hard work and effort that Republican leadership put into trying to foster a deal between the White House and Republicans. However, our country's spending is barreling us towards econo  more

BERGENFIELD, New Jersey, June 6 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 5, 2023: Today, June 5, 2023, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced that after months of debt ceiling negotiations, he helped successfully secure a $20 billion dollar investment for the PACT Act Toxic Exposure Fund -- a $15 billion dollar increase to get much needed healthcare to veterans who were exposed to burn pits and toxic substances during their service. Gottheimer  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 6, 2023: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today welcomed the unprecedented agreement reached by Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to allow members of the Foreign Affairs Committee to view the dissent channel cable that was sent by 23 officials at the US Embassy in Kabul just one month before President Biden's disastrous   more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Washington, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, issued the following opening remarks during the June 6, 2023, hearing entitled "Amtrak Operations: Examining the Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Efficiency and Service": * * * Ranking Member Larsen: Thank you, Chairman Nehls and Ra  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 6, 2023: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer's bipartisan Senior Security Act unanimously passed the House of Representatives. Gottheimer's legislation will help stop financial predators from scamming seniors out of their savings by creating a federal Senior Investor Task Force within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to strengthen protections and safeguards for senior investors. Gotthei  more

BRANCHBURG, New Jersey, June 10 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2023: Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. held a community roundtable at Branchburg Central Middle School to discuss the critical issue of childhood mental health and his legislation, Healthy Minds for a Better Future Act, aimed at supporting the mental well-being of our nation's children. This legislation directs resources focused on middle school students, in particular, as we are   more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2023: Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe announced the introduction of a bipartisan House Resolution aimed at urging the Biden administration to swiftly provide Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine. This resolution is co-sponsored by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Subcommittee on Europe Ranki  more

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, June 8 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) announced a combined total of $23,070,897 to the State Police of New Jersey and Hackensack Meridian Health, Inc. from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DOH) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These grants will cover emergency protective equipment costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic including   more

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, June 6 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 5, 2023: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) announced today a combined total of $25,269,769 to the North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI), Rutgers University's Biomedical and Health Sciences, and the New Jersey Department of Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These grants will provide funds for substance use and addic  more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2023: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) announced a combined total of $441,926.56 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) to support and improve the operations and safety of firefighters in 5 New Jersey cities across the state. "Local fire departments strive tirelessly to protect their residents, keep th  more

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, June 10 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2023: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) cosponsored the introduction of Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act. This legislation, led in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and in the House by U.S. Congressman Dwight Evans' (D-Pa.-03), ensures that all survivors of gun violence, including their loved ones, coworkers and classmates, have access to a  more

MONMOUTH BEACH, New Jersey, June 6 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 5, 2023: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) will receive $20 million in federal funding to help upgrade its wastewater treatment plant at a press conference with Governor Murphy, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Vin Gopal and TRWRA Executive Director Mike Gianforte. TRWRA will use the funding to r  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today applauded new investments from the Biden Administration to support the conservation and protection of whales. The U.S. Department of Commerce will devote $82 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support the conservation of the  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on June 6, 2023: * * * Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in reaction to Merck's lawsuit to block the Inflation Reduction Act's provisions empowering Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors: "This lawsuit is outrageous. Empowering Medicare to negotiate fair prescription drug prices for seniors is not only  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 6, 2023: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook will receive $5 million from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to make critical upgrades to the facility's saltwater intake system. The system currently suffers from deferred maintenance that threatens the facility's core research mission. The funding comes from $150 mill  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 5, 2023: Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, today commended President Biden's nomination of Marjorie Rollinson to serve as Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This appointment comes at a critical time as the nation continues to implement provisions of the landmark Inflation Reduction Ac  more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2023: Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today commented on the reported indictment of Donald Trump on numerous federal felonies, Trump's second indictment this year. "Again, we are making terrible history," said Congressman Pascrell, the first member of Congress to call for Trump's federal indictment back in 2020. "That a former chief executive is being held accountable for his crim  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the longtime leader in Congress seeking regulation of the broken live events ticket market, today praised Colorado Democratic Governor Jared Polis for vetoing the final version of Senate Bill 23-060 that would not protect consumers from a duopoly of consolidated power in the ticketing marketplace. "With his veto, Governor Polis has shown treme  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08) today introduced the Reduce Helicopter Noise Act to take federal action that would rein in the growing noise of helicopter flights over American communities. "In urban and suburban communities like ours, the number of complaints about commercial helicopter noise has grown exponentially," said Congress  more

TAMPA, Florida, June 7 -- Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Florida, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) honored World War II veteran and Ruskin neighbor Gladys Blount on her 101st birthday and the 79th anniversary of D-Day for the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. Gladys served in the all-Black all-female 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Unit. Ms. Blount, born June 6, 1922, grew up in New Jersey and worked as a hairdresser. She wished to travel the world  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: Today, Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced a $1,101,459 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to CAMcare Health Corporation that will expand comprehensive health care services to medically underserved communities throughout South Jersey. The HHS Health Center Cluster Program supports community-based and patient-directed nonprofit organizations that prov  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on June 6, 2023: * * * Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement regarding OMB Director Shalanda Young's involvement with the Bipartisan Budget Deal: "Since the beginning of Shalanda Young's involvement with the Appropriations Committee, she displayed exactly what Shirley Chisholm was talking about when she said, 'You don't make progress by standing on the s  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned witnesses during a hearing entitled "Consolidation and Corporate Ownership in Health Care: Trends and Impacts on Access, Quality, and Costs," about the impacts vertical integration of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), pricing transparency, and insurer consolidation have on health care co  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 6, 2023: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nev.01) today reintroduced the bicameral Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA), legislation that would address numerous persistent challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when they use transportation services. It would establish a one-stop pilot program to help paratransit riders avoid excessive wait ti  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Impacts of Plastic Production and Disposal on Environmental Justice Communities" at 10 a.m. on June 15, 2023, at 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building: Panel 1 * Angelle Bradford, Doctoral student in physiology and medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine, Volunteer Sierra Club Delta Chapter * Sharon Lavigne, Founder, Rise St. James * Chris Tandazo, Director o  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on June 5, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in reaction to successful negotiation of the first ever U.S.-Taiwan Trade Initiative: "As the Co-Chair of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, I have long called for the United States to negotiate a comprehensive free trade  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on June 6, 2023, after the destruction of the Nova Kakhova dam in Ukraine: * * * "Deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure, as such, would be a war crime, plain and simple. If it's found that Russia did indeed purposefully target and destroy the Kakhovka dam, those responsible must be held to account. "While Russia has denied its own involvement in  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on June 8, 2023: This morning, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered an opening statement at SFRC's Business Meeting. The agenda included the consideration of various nominees and legislation, including The International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. A copy of the Chairm  more

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) released statements following the Committee's passage of their International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2023. Passed   more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on June 7, 2023: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following opening statement at this morning's full Committee hearing, "State Department Services for the American People: An Overview of Consular Affairs and Programs." Testifying before the Committee was State Department Assistan  more

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) is fighting to protect access to telehealth services alongside Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues with the reintroduction of the Expanded Telehealth Access Act. "The use of telehealth services during the pandemic demonstrated the pivotal role technology can play in improving health equity. For vulnerable populations, especially   more

MONMOUTH BEACH, New Jersey, June 7 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined with Governor Phil Murphy, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.-06), and New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal to highlight the commencement of the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) sewer/pump station project, to which the Murphy Administration will commit $20 million in federal grant funding. The two-part project in Monmouth County w  more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-New York, issued the following news release on June 9, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15) announced they are leading a bicameral group of colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing June as "Immigrant Heritage Month." "As the proud son of Cuban refugees, my family's immigrant story has guided me throughout my life. Thanks to them and their many sacrifices, I was able to rise from a te  more

WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.-15) announced they are leading a bicameral group of colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing June as "Immigrant Heritage Month." "As the proud son of Cuban refugees, my family's immigrant story has guided me throughout my life. Thanks to them and their many sacrifices, I was able to rise fr  more

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 6, 2023: Today, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Mark Takano (CA-39) reintroduced a bill to ensure insurance companies use only driving-related factors in determining car insurance rates and eligibility. The Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination Act, or PAID Act would end the use of income, credit score, education levels, and other factors unrelated  more