WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Bipartisan legislation named in honor of Samantha "Sami" Josephson--a senior at the University of South Carolina who was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 2019 by a predator pretending to be her Uber driver--was passed in the House of Representatives. Sami's Law--HR 4686--passed in a unanimous voice vote. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the bill's prime sponsor, said that among its provisions, Sami's Law will   more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02), co-chairmen of the Congressional Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force, hailed House passage of their amendment to provide $5 million to support the National Concussion Surveillance System (NCSS). The NCSS is critical to accurately determining the incidence of concussions, particularly among the most vulnerable Americans. Rep. Pascrell's Tr  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: This week, the House will be considering amendments introduced by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) to: * Improve the U.S. manufacturing supply chain to address challenges caused by COVID-19; * Improve transparency and access to the Strategic National Stockpile; * Boost investment in critical broadband infrastructure -- especially for unserved and underserved areas; * Prioritize clean and lea  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: The House passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) -- H.R. 7027, the Child Care is Essential Act -- to create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization fund and invest in child care so that providers across the Fifth District have the resources they need to safely reopen. Without adequate investments in the child care industry, families across the country will b  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: The House passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) -- Sami's Law -- which will enhance safety for rideshare passengers by requiring services like Uber and Lyft to have drivers verify who they are before riders enter the vehicle. Under Sami's Law, all rideshare services are required to adopt digital systems that allow passengers to verify the vehicle before   more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis issued the following information for a remote hearing: "Solving the Climate Crisis: Building a Vibrant and Just Clean Energy Economy" at 2 p.m.: The hearing will focus on ensuring a just, equitable transition to a net-zero clean energy economy that creates good-paying, high-quality jobs. The committee will receive testimony from: * Ana Baptista (@ProfAnaBaptista), Assistant Professor of Professional Practice and Associate  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 30: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09) heralded the passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of their amendment that will provide $2 million to USPS for postal banking pilot programs throughout the United States. "Ninety percent of zip codes lacking a bank or credit union are in rural areas. Bank branches are also sparse in low income urban areas. Approxima  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and David McKinley (R-WV-01) celebrated House passage of their amendment to fund the Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department (ALTO) program at $6 million for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 2021). Pascrell was the primary House sponsor of the law authorizing the program, which was included in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery a  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following remarks at the beginning of a Foreign Relations Committee business meeting on July 29: "We are here because Secretary Pompeo pressured to move certain nominees over our objection -- objections that go to the core of whether we are a coequal branch of government or simply a doormat for the Secretary and the President," said Ranking Member Menendez, not  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on July 28: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic Staff today published a new report documenting the Trump administration's decimation of the State Department. Commissioned by Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the report is a comprehensive examination of the Trump administration's assault on U.S. diplomacy. Through a revie  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced that $3 billion in federal investment from the bipartisan CARES Act has helped the Fifth District's counties and towns to date, based on the most recent public data. Gottheimer announced that, of the communities within the Fifth District, Sussex County has received an estimated $277 million with 1,286 cases in the entire county, Warren County has recei  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) has introduced an amendment to prohibit any federal funding from being used to build the proposed rockwall along I-80 in Knowlton and Hardwick Townships in Warren County, NJ. Gottheimer's amendment has been introduced to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act. Against the objections of many local officials and residents, the New Je  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a virtual health care roundtable with North Jersey doctors, nurses, health care officials, and long-term care facility administrators from Fifth District hospitals and health care providers to discuss North Jersey's coronavirus response and preparedness. "I'd like to thank all of our health care professionals joining me today who have been such courageous  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 29: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced that thirteen organizations throughout New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District -- houses of worship, schools, and local community organizations -- received new Nonprofit Security Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Fiscal Year 2020. The grants provide security for certain tax-exempt organizations that are at risk   more

MAYS LANDING, New Jersey, July 29 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Jeff Van Drew announced two more additional Air Improvement Program Grants (AIP) in South Jersey. Included in the grants were $11.2 million for runway improvements at Atlantic City International Airport, and $1.4 million for Millville Municipal Airport in Millville for improvements to the Apron portion of the airport. "These funds are another big win for South Jersey and  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) called on House and Senate leadership to come together and bring to the House floor a Coronavirus relief package that prioritizes preventing massive cuts to public services, first responders and teachers. "The people of Burlington and Ocean Counties are about to face the impact of two massive failures: the failure of the Administration in enacting a national plan to end the pande  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) called on House and Senate leadership to come together and bring to the House floor a Coronavirus relief package that extends enhanced unemployment coverage for the more than 30 million Americans currently out of work due to the Coronavirus crisis. "The American people are beyond tired of Washington politics constantly waiting until the last minute and constantly putting our nati  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) in a hearing of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis entitled, 'The Urgent Need for a National Plan to Contain the Coronavirus Crisis', pressed the nation's top public health leaders on whether the federal government is doing everything it can to contain the crisis. "The question I asked repeatedly is one I hear from people in New Jersey every day: are we doing eve  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: As the national conversation around racial justice continues, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), the U.S. House Assistant Speaker, raised the issue of environmental justice in a remote hearing of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis focused on building a vibrant and equitable clean energy economy in the United States. During the hearing, Congressman Lujan questioned Dr. Ana Baptista of the New Jer  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 31: The House of Representatives passed a $1.3 trillion government funding bill that prioritizes public health and pandemic preparedness, invests in education and job training, supports service members and military families, addresses police reform, fights back against white supremacist terrorism, and combats climate change. The bill includes several provisions introduced by Representative Mali  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: The House of Representatives passed two bills to ease the shortage of quality, affordable child care amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Child Care is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act will help stabilize the child care sector, and support providers to reopen and operate safely. Representative Malinowski voted in favor of both bills, and co-sponsored the Child Care is Essential Ac  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: The House of Representatives passed the Transportation - Housing and Urban Development appropriations package, which allocates $107.2 billion for the Department of Transportation (DOT), $19.4 billion above the President's request. The package, which includes several priorities championed by Representative Tom Malinowski, invests in America's infrastructure, improves transportation safety, promotes gree  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: "I am deeply frustrated by the relief bill introduced by Senate Republicans yesterday. After months of inaction, their proposal fails the American people during this once in a lifetime global crisis. There are provisions in the Senate bill that are a starting point for negotiations. I strongly believe in a targeted second round of loans to our hardest hit small businesses through the Paycheck Protection  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) - a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor and House Armed Services Committee - voted in favor of H.R. 7617, which contains six Fiscal Year 2021 bills that fund federal departments and agencies including those related to education, health care, transportation, infrastructure, technology and national defense. "How we invest our nation's funding i  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) voted to pass H.R. 7027, the Child Care is Essential Act, and H.R. 7327, the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, to create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization fund and invest in child care so that providers across New Jersey have the resources they need to safely reopen. Without adequate investments in the child care industry, families across the country  more

LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, July 29 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract for the dredging of Cheesequake Creek. Work is expected to begin as early as August and take one month to complete. In February, Pallone announced securing the $4.1 million in federal funding necessary for the project. "This is great news and another step in the right direction to i  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks at an Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee hearing entitled "There's Something in the Water: Reforming Our Nation's Drinking Water Standards" on July 28: Safe drinking water is essential to our nation's public health, and never has that been more clear than during this pandemic. Right now, families are struggling to keep the water turned o  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks at a Heath Subcommittee hearing entitled "Improving Access to Care: Legislation to Reauthorize Key Public Health Programs" on July 29: Today we continue this Committee's ongoing work to improve the health and wellbeing of Americans by discussing legislation that will reauthorize five important public health programs. While we continue to prioriti  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Congressman Joe Kennedy (MA-04), Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) today wrote to the Trump Administration opposing its proposal that would allow discrimination against transgender Americans seeking emergency and temporary shelter. In the letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, the Members urge th  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) applauded a hearing scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health addressing the nationwide crisis in veterans care homes ravaged by COVID-19. Pascrell has been invited to participate in the meeting and will be submitting testimony on the devastating COVID outbreak at the New Jersey Veterans Home at Paramus (NJVHP). "To  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) reacted to reports that the U.S. Treasury Department has finally agreed to loan the United States Postal Service (USPS) $10 billion to help the public service weather the COVID-19 pandemic amid Donald Trump's efforts to destroy the post office. "The U.S. Postal Service stands at the brink of collapse," said Rep. Pascrell, one of the post office's strongest advo  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) praised the passage in the House of Representatives of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (H.R.7575). This legislation authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) work on water resource projects to build and study new lock, damn, levee, and ecosystem projects throughout the nation. Included in the bill are three items requested by Rep. Pascrell:  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, wrote to U.S. Treasury Steven Mnuchin calling out the Trump administration's failure to provide information to Congress on currency manipulation by China and other countries. "I write to express my dismay with your failure to provide Congress with the statutorily required semi-annual report on whether China or a  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following op-ed, published in NJ.com: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) published an opinion editorial in NJ.com on how Donald Trump and Republican leaders' assaults on the right to vote and the United States Postal Service threaten this years elections and American democracy itself. The text of Pascrell's article is provided below. Our sacred right to vote is under grave threat The passing of my friend Congressman   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following op-ed, published in NJ.com: The passing of my friend Congressman John Lewis has been a terrible blow. His death at this moment crystalizes the imperative of what was perhaps John's most important life's work: protecting your right to vote. Because there is no question that your sacred right is under grave threat. Almost daily, Donald Trump uses his pulpit to target election officials. He spews conspiracy theorie  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: With Senate Republicans letting federal unemployment insurance run out for millions of Americans during a pandemic, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), New Jersey's only member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, released a slate of stories from North Jersey residents in the Ninth District describing the impact of Republicans' callous inaction. This follows a Ways and Means Worker a  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act. The bill would establish a 19-member commission to examine the social disparities that disproportionately affect Black males in America. Commission members will review several issues and statistics to understand why it occurs, such as homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, poverty, vio  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 30: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for two bills late yesterday to provide emergency funding to child-care providers to keep them open during the coronavirus global pandemic. The first bill, the Child Care is Essential Act (H.R. 7027), would create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund to provide grants to child-care providers to support them to reopen and operate safely. The s  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted to advance two major pieces of child care legislation that will help ensure children, families, and workers are protected as we work to safely reopen the country. The Child Care is Essential Act (H.R. 7027) and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 7327) will create a grant fund for child care providers to support safe reopening and operations and est  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) sent House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez results from the second NJ-11 Small Business Survey. Representative Sherrill advocated for specific proposals and changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to help North Jersey businesses based on the feedback from more than 350 small business o  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) slammed the Senate's coronavirus relief proposal for including at least $7 billion for weapons programs, while leaving out aid to state and local governments, ignoring the need for food and rental assistance, and drastically cutting unemployment benefits. "I believe in modernizing our military, but this is ridiculous," said Rep. Sherrill. "The House of Representati  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Servicewomen & Women Veterans Congressional Caucus Chairwoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Vice Chairs Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Elaine Luria (D-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) requested that the House and Senate Armed Services Committees hold hearings into the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, support legislative proposals to address sexual assault and misconduct and work to implement policies that root out the   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) today released a statement slamming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his failure to act with any sense of urgency on the expanded unemployment benefits that expire today: "Seventy-eight days ago, the House passed the Heroes Act, which included critical funding for state and local governments and expanded unemployment benefits. Since May, the unemployment rate  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman applauded the passage of the Child Care is Essential Act, legislation she introduced alongside Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. The bill will create a $50 billion Child Care   more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Andy Levin, D-Michigan, issued the following joint statement on July 28 with Reps. Joseph Neguse, D-Colorado, Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey and Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, urging Senate Republicans to include funds for local governments in their coronavirus relief package: In April, the group of lawmakers introduced the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, legislation to ensure smaller cities and counties originally left out of the CARES Act are prov  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following joint statement with Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colorado, Andy Levin, D-Michigan and Tom Malinowski, D-New Jersey, urging Senate Republicans to include funds for local governments in their coronavirus relief package: In April, the group of lawmakers introduced the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, legislation to ensure smaller cities and counties originally left out of the CARES Act are provided adequate relief   more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Joseph Neguse, D-Colorado, issued the following joint statement with Reps. Andy Levin, D-Michigan, Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey and Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, urging Senate Republicans to include funds for local governments in their coronavirus relief package: In April, the group of lawmakers introduced the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, legislation to ensure smaller cities and counties originally left out of the CARES Act are provided adequa  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-Ore.), House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today released the following s  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Andy Kim (NJ-03) applauded House passage of an appropriations bill that provides relief for families currently required to pay back disaster relief funds they received after Superstorm Sandy. Many homeowners who received relief funds have been required to repay some or all the funds, creating a financial burden during a tim  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) introduced the American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act. As the United States has contended with devastating shortages since the beginning of the pandemic, this bipartisan legislation will help end America's over-reliance on personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies from China and other foreign nations. Expanding U.S.  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), and David Schweikert (R-AZ-06) introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure new parents quickly receive the additional $500 per child payment provided by the CARES Act. Currently, parents of children born or adopted on or after January 1, 2020, must wait until they file taxes in calendar year 2021 to receive t  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH-02) led 164 of their Democratic and Republican Members of Congress urging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to remove duties on food and drink imports imposed in relation to the Large Civil Aircraft Dispute before the World Trade Organization (WTO) to lower prices for American families, small business and industries alr  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) and Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Chairman and Vice Chair respectively of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade, led a letter with 12 of their colleagues to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging him to speak up on human rights and anti-corruption efforts in Honduras. The letter, which expresses alarm about the abdu  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), and Andy Kim (NJ-03) applauded House passage of an appropriations bill that provides relief for families currently required to pay back disaster relief funds they received after Superstorm Sandy. Many homeowners who received relief funds have been required to repay some or all the funds, creating a financial burden during a  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, issued the following joint statement on the White House call for Congress to pass legislation ending the practice of surprise medical billing: The statement was co-issued by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-New Jersey, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, and Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina. * * * "Patients have demanded protection from surprise medical bills for years. They need it   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 28: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) delivered the keynote address at the virtual National Food Policy Conference hosted by the Consumer Federation of America. During his remarks, Senator Booker discussed his legislative efforts to reform our broken food system and highlighted the negative impacts the current system has on independent family farmers, rural communities, public heath, workers and farm   more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act to protect worker, consumer, and animal safety by suspending all current and future USDA waivers and regulations that allow companies to increase production line speeds at meatpacking plants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), and Bennie Thompson (MS-2) have introduced companion leg  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, issued the following joint statement with Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, on the death of Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan's first democratically elected president: "We join the people of Taiwan in mourning the passing of Lee Teng-hui, and offer our prayers for his loved ones and to all those who continue to draw strength and inspiration from his life and legacy. "It's not often that the story of a man's life tells the story of a nation. But so it  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, July 28 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez blasted Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and the Trump White House for their abject failure to respond to the extraordinary challenges facing millions of Americans, their families and communities as federal jobless benefits, eviction and foreclosure protections expire; state and local coffers run dry; and COVID-19 cases surge in many states. At a press conference in   more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the highest-ranking Latino in Congress introduced the Federal Jobs Act that would require the development and implementation of a government-wide initiative to promote, expand, and retain diverse talent across the federal workforce. The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.-20) introduc  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Banking and Finance Committees, joined a group of colleagues in introducing new legislation to address the growing threat of COVID-19-related scams seeking to fleece American consumers. The Stopping COVID Scams Act of 2020 would empower the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to better hold bad actors accountable fo  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following opening remarks at a hearing entitled "Review of the Fiscal Year 2021 State Department Budget Request" on July 30. Testifying at the hearing was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: "When you entered office, I offered a hand to work with you on areas where we could have built real agendas with bipartisan political buy-in -- Venezuela, Iran, Russia, China.   more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in support for Mauricio Claver-Carone to serve as the next president of the Inter-American Development Bank: M. President, I rise to speak about the campaign currently underway to select the next president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in September of this year. The IDB has served as the preeminent development bank in the Ame  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on July 27: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) released the following statement after the National Museum of the American Latino Act, to authorize the Smithsonian Institution to create a museum honoring American Latinos, passed in the House of Representatives: * * * "Today, nearly one in five Americans is of Hispanic descent, yet you would not realize that if you walked down the National Mall. Our count  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 28: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic Staff published a new report documenting the Trump administration's decimation of the State Department. Commissioned by Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the report is a comprehensive examination of the Trump administration's assault on U.S. diplomacy. Through a review of ongoing senior-level vacancies plaguing the State Department, repea  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on July 29 in response to President Trump's decision to withdraw some U.S. forces from Germany: "Champagne must be flowing freely this evening at the Kremlin. The Trump Administration's decision to withdraw forces from Germany is not only an affront to one of our closest allies, but will ultimately weaken U.S. efforts to counter Kremlin aggression in Europe. "Germany is as an essential platform for life-  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is convening a Congressional briefing on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 2:30 PM EDT to unveil a new report being published by the SFRC Democratic Staff. Commissioned by Ranking Member Menendez, the report, entitled "Diplomacy in Crisis: The Trump Administ  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, and Representatives Albio Sires (N.J.-08), Donald Payne, Jr. (N.J.-10), Mikie Sherrill (N.J.-11) and Tom Malinowski (N.J.-07) announced that Essex County has been awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) grant of $1.78 million to aid the county's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. "New Jersey was at the center of the  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the Ukraine Security Partnership Act to provide security assistance and strategic support to Ukrain  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: As COVID-19 infections continue to surge across America and nearly 30 states impose public mask-wearing requirements, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and over three dozen of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate and House introduced lifesaving legislation to manufacture and distribute high-quality, reusable masks to everyone in America. Senate co-sponsors of Sanders' Masks for All Act include Demo  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee issued the following hearing information: Nominations at 253 Russell Senate Office Building at 10 a.m. on Aug. 6: The hearing will consider presidential nominations to the Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Board, and Amtrak Board of Directors. Witnesses: * Eric Soskin, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation * Robert Primus, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Surfa  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker announced a total of $28,919,131 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support airports throughout New Jersey, which includes an additional $3,180,239 the senators secured in the CARES Act to help the state's COVID-19 response. "Our airports are hubs for commerce and travel, both domestic and international, and play a major ro  more

WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue critical flexibilities that have allowed students to access much-needed meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If extended throughout the 2020-2021 school year, children would maintain access regardless of school opening status, and struggling  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined a group of colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leaders urging them to include the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act in the next coronavirus relief package as negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats are underway. Inclusion of the legislation will help strengthen the public's trust to participate in critical screening an  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 30: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee that sets national health policy, Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a group of Senate colleagues in introducing the Mental Health Equity Act of 2020 to address the issues of suicide and mental health in youth with a focus on those in socially and economically disadvantaged communit  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on July 27: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today led a group of 23 senators in again calling on President Trump to support the victims of the Maduro regime by granting Temporary Protect  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on July 27: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) led a group of 23 senators in again calling on President Trump to support the victims of the Maduro regime by granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans fleeing the political, economic, and huma  more

WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following joint statement on July 30 with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, on the death of Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan's first democratically elected president: "We join the people of Taiwan in mourning the passing of Lee Teng-hui, and offer our prayers for his loved ones and to all those who continue to draw strength and inspiration from his life and legacy. "It's no  more