WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following opening remarks on March 24, 2021, at a hearing on the state of democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's full Committee hearing on the state of democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Testifying before the Com  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on March 26, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, March 26: "On the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, I extend my best wishes to the Bangladeshi people as you celebrate this momentous mil  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on March 24, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement ahead of Freedom Day in Belarus, March 25, which marks the 103rd anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic's proclamation of independence: "Ahead of Belarus's Freedom Day, I stand with the Belarusian peo  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on March 22, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement ahead of Freedom Day in Belarus, March 25, which marks the 103rd anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic's proclamation of independence: "Ahead of Belarus's Freedom Day, I stand with the Belarusian peo  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening statement as part of a virtual hearing entitled "Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow's America Act: Revitalizing our Nation's Infrastructure and Economy" on March 22, 2021: * * * We begin the process of rebuilding and revitalizing our economy by modernizing our nation's infrastructure. Over the last year, we've seen the devastating results of inaction:  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's approval of his bipartisan resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, March 25, 2021. Cosponsored by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the resolution celebrates the commitment to democracy that Greece and the Un  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's approval of his bipartisan resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, March 25, 2021. Cosponsored by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the resolution celebrate  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies issued the following testimony by Lisa Asare, assistant commissioner for the Division of Family Health Services at New Jersey Department of Health, as part of a virtual hearing entitled "Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis": * * * Thank you for inviting me to testify on the critically important issue of maternal health in the United States. I would also like to es  more

PARSIPPANY, New Jersey, March 25 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement today on Equal Pay Day to highlight the gender disparity in income in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District and across the country. "The wage gap isn't just a women's issue, it's an economic issue, a family issue, and an equity issue," said Rep. Sherrill. "Based on median annual earnings, women in t  more

NEWTON, New Jersey, March 26 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) wrote a letter to the Sussex County Board of Commissioners inviting them to a briefing from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) to discuss the ongoing security threat that domestic terrorists pose to Northern NJ and the nation. This briefing follows a request from Sussex County Commissioner Director Dawn Fantasia at the Februa  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) questioned U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a House Financial Services Committee hearing about addressing the need to reinstate the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction and to combat tax fraudsters who avoid paying the IRS what they should, causing an annual $600 billion tax gap. Gottheimer noted that the 2017 partisan Tax Hike Bill, which was jammed  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced his office is taking virtual submissions for the 2021 Congressional Art Competition, which gives high school students across Burlington and Ocean Counties an opportunity for their artwork to be featured in Washington, DC in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. Students will have until April 18th to submit artwork to Congressman Kim's office. Judging will be held from April 19  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) released the following statement on reports in the Washington Post that North Korea engaged in short-range missile tests during the weekend: "These tests only confirm what we know: the importance of working with our allies in the region to build out a sustainable strategy to engage North Korea with the end goal of de-escalation and stabilization. The recent visit by Secretar  more

SOMERVILLE, New Jersey, March 24 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: On Friday, Representative Malinowski met virtually with local members of Scouts BSA Troop 19 - St. Rose of Lima, Short Hills, and their historic class of female Eagle Scouts. Five members of the troop have been honored with the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout in the first year young women were able to obtain the rank in the organization's 111 year history. To earn the distinction, scouts   more

CAMDEN, New Jersey, March 26 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced today that CAMcare Health Corporation, a federally-qualified community health center in Camden City, will receive a grant of $2,119,418 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This grant will support healthcare services for disadvantaged residents by  more

LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, March 26 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that Community Health Centers in New Jersey will receive $129,653,750 to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing, treatment, and preventative health services in underserved areas. The funding will be administered through the Department of Health and Human Services as part of the American Rescue Plan, which Pall  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on March 22, 2021, after President Biden announced his intention to nominate Lina Khan to the Federal Trade Commission: * * * "I congratulate Ms. Khan on her nomination and commend President Biden for his selection of a strong pro-consumer advocate to join the FTC. "Ms. Khan will bring a wealth of knowledge to the Commission, and I trust that she w  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on March 24, 2021, at an Energy Subcommittee legislative hearing entitled "The CLEAN Future Act: Powering a Resilient and Prosperous America": * * * The Energy Subcommittee is holding its first legislative hearing on H.R. 1512, the CLEAN Future Act, comprehensive and ambitious legislation to combat the climate crisis. This hearing will examin  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on March 22, 2021, at a committee legislative hearing entitled "LIFT America: Revitalizing our Nation's Infrastructure and Economy": * * * We begin the process of rebuilding and revitalizing our economy by modernizing our nation's infrastructure. Over the last year, we've seen the devastating results of inaction: major power outages, water disr  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on March 25, 2021, at a joint Communications and Technology Subcommittee and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee hearing entitled "Disinformation Nation: Social Media's Role in Promoting Extremism and Misinformation": * * * We are here today because the spread of disinformation and extremism has been growing online, particularly on so  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following prepared opening remarks on March 23, 2021, at a Health Subcommittee legislative hearing entitled "Building on the ACA: Legislation to Expand Health Coverage and Lower Costs": * * * On the 11th anniversary of President Obama signing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, the Committee is considering a slate of bills that reflect Democrats' continued commitmen  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on March 24, 2021, at an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing entitled "Power Struggle: Examining the 2021 Texas Grid Failure": * * * We are examining the causes of the recent widespread power outages in Texas and how to fortify the electrical grid against extreme weather events and climate change. The enormity of this disaster a  more

SAYREVILLE, New Jersey, March 27 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today held a press conference to discuss how the American Rescue Plan will accelerate COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration in New Jersey. He was joined by Middlesex County officials at a vaccination site to highlight the state's ongoing efforts to vaccinate residents efficiently and equitably. "We are in a race against  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH) wrote to nine internet service providers (ISPs) and their trade assoc  more

PATERSON, New Jersey, March 24 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today blasted an announcement by United States Postal Service (USPS) leadership that it wanted to shorten post office hours, raise prices, and slow first class mail in a continued effort by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to destabilize the Post Office. "This so-called plan offered by USPS leadership should itself be a dead letter. A  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, issued the following prepared opening statement on March 25, 2021, at a hearing on examining private equity's role in the health care system: * * * It is past time for a bright light to be shined on how private equity ownership in our health care system affects patient safety, cost, and jobs. Private equity's influence stretches like an octopus. In 2020, we saw $66 billion  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement in response to recent reports on unpaid taxes from wealthy Americans: "For far too long in our country, the wealthy have not paid their fair share of taxes. The result is a t  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT), Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) wrote to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) to express their concerns over reported delays in automatic  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. wrote FEMA today to request the agency list Essex County as a candidate for a federal vaccination center. In a letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, Rep. Payne, Jr. said a federal center would increase county vaccination rates by 6,000 per day and help Essex County reduce positive COVID-19 tests, which have been increasing slightly since February. T  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. introduced the No Honor for Treason Act of 2021. The bill would prohibit military honors at the funeral, burial, or inurnment of anyone convicted of a felony related to the riot and insurrection on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol Building. Rep. Payne, Jr. co-led the bill with Rep. Anthony Brown (MD-4). "Our military veterans swear an oath to defend this country, not   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: * * * Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. released the following statement regarding the tragic shooting at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, CO on March 22, 2021. A 21-year-old suspect has been arrested for the incident in which 10 people were killed, including Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, 51. "My condolences and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims of the mass shooting in B  more

PARSIPPANY, New Jersey, March 27 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) applauded Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on his announcement that he's committed to completing the long-stalled environmental impact study that continues to delay the Gateway Tunnel Project. "The Gateway Tunnel project is America's most urgent infrastructure project. It's not just crucial to New Jersey and New York, but to the ec  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), along with thirty-six colleagues, wrote to Mark Emmert, President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to demand answers and accountability for the recently reported disparate treatment of women's and men's teams in the Division One championship tournaments. The letter enumerates the reported disparities including stark differences in the condi  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) highlighted the importance of funding for the Gateway Project in an exchange with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at a committee hearing titled "The Administration's Priorities for Transportation Infrastructure." "We have two commuter tunnels that are over 100 years old. During Superstorm Sandy, a lot of saltwater got into the tunnels. I'm concerned that if we do  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: The White House announced that Newark, NJ would be one of three locations housing federally run mass vaccination sites. "The announcement by the White House that Newark will be one of three locations partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to open a mass vaccination site is welcome news to our community," Said Rep. Sires. "The equitable distribution of vaccines ha  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) gave the following statement after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation aimed at enacting voter suppression into law: "American democracy is built on the belief that all individuals have the right to decide their political future. Unfortunately, Republicans in the Georgia legislature have decided that open and fair elections are electorally inconvenient for th  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Sires released the following statement after two mass casualty shootings in the last week: "One week following the shooting in Atlanta, which led to the senseless deaths of eight people and showed us once again the tragic consequences of hate in our nation, another act of gun violence has left ten more dead in Boulder. "These mass shootings are a particular American experience that our c  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), gave the following statement after Postmaster Louis DeJoy released his 'Delivering for America' plan. The Delivering for America plan is a 10 year plan that postmaster DeJoy hopes to implement at the United States Postal Service (USPS). "The United States Postal Service is one of the oldest institutions in our country and is protected explicitly in the Constitution. Th  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Judy Chu (D-CA-27), members of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, today led 14 of their committee colleagues in pushing U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig to get stimulus help to Americans who need it most from the historic American Rescue Plan recently passed b  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) announced the introduction of the bipartisan State Allowance for a Variety of Exchanges Act of 2021, or SAVE Act. The bill, which will be discussed tomorrow in a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, would authorize grants for states to establish and run state-based exchanges through the Affordable Care Act. "The COVID-1  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-7) and Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) reintroduced the Protecting Americans from Dangerous Algorithms Act, legislation to hold large social media platforms accountable for their algorithmic amplification of harmful, radicalizing content that leads to offline violence. They were joined by Representatives Sean Casten, Jason Crow, Suzan DelBene, Mark DeSaulnier, Ted D  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news joint statement on March 23, 2021, with Reps. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, and Danny K. Davis, D-Illinois: * * * House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Health Subcommittee Chairman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Cha  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT), Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) announced that the Social Security Administration (SSA) had sent missing payment files to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) t  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT), Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) wrote to Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul on behalf of the nearly 30 million Social Security and   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following joint statement on March 23, 2021, with Reps. Mike Thompson, D-California, and Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey: * * * House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement in response to recent  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09) today sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the National Flood Insurance Program's Risk Rating 2.0 implementation to be postponed to ensure transparency in the process and fairness for New Jersey policyholders. "We write to urge you to postpone the implementation of the Risk Rating 2.0 update   more

PATERSON, New Jersey, March 24 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the National Flood Insurance Program's Risk Rating 2.0 implementation be postponed to ensure transparency in the process and fairness for New Jersey policyholders. "We write to urge you   more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), along with Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), re-introduced the Ending Punitive, Unfair, School-based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma (Ending PUSHOUT) Act, bold legislation to end the punitive pushout of girls of color from schools and disrupt the school-to-confinement pathway. The Ending PUSHOUT Act acknowledg  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and David McKinley (WV-01), with Rep. Joseph Morelle, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Albio Sires, Rep. Claudia Tenney, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Rodney Davis, Rep. Bobby Rush, Rep. Don Young, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Rep. Tom O'Halleran, and Rep. Andre Carson reintroduced bipartisan legislatio  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) today introduced the bipartisan GI Bill NEED Act to protect veterans' educational benefits from expiring due to institutional closures or other factors caused by the COVID-19 national emergency. This important legislation will allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to pause the time limit curre  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 22, 2021: Congressmembers Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Gwen Moore (WI-04) announced the reintroduction of The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or CROWN Act in the House of Representatives, simultaneously releasing a letter sent to Vice President Kamala Harris urging her to use her platform as the   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina); and a group of 39 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden outlining the pillars of a comprehensive diplomatic Iran strategy   more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: In Honor of Women's History Month, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) announced today that he will, for the seventh time, lead introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to guarantee women complete equal rights under the U.S. Constitution. Women's History Month is dedicated to celebrating the invaluable contributions women have made to our society. "We cannot continue to toler  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today introduced comprehensive legislation that will expand and improve access to essential benefits for veterans who served in the Gulf War and other wars in the region. Gulf War veterans often suffer from unexplained chronic symptoms known as the "Gulf War Illness", which can include symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, memory loss, insomnia, and resp  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following opening statement on March 23, 2021, at a hearing on the nomination of Ambassador Samantha Power to serve as Administrator to the U.S. Agency for International Development: * * * Today we are considering the nomination of Ambassador Samantha Power to be Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, known to all of us as USAID. Ambassad  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 40 of their Senate colleagues in urging the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to provide at least $185 million in funding for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation(NeighborWorks America) in order to confront the nation's affordable housing c  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, today pushed for an extension of the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during questioning of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. PPP, which has delivered $718 billion in relief for struggling small businesses throughout the pandemic, is due to expire next   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: Facing expiration at the end of the month, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez today voted to extend the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) until May 31, 2021, providing additional two months for struggling small businesses, particularly underserved minority and women-owned businesses, to apply for and get the assistance they need. "The Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline,   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and 26 other cosponsors today in introducing the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would ensure that legal cannabis businesses have access to critical banking services. The bill includes elements of Sen. Me  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.-13) today reintroduced the Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act. This bicameral legislation would repeal the Tiahrt Amendments - provisions that severely hamstring law enforcement's ability to solve and prosecute gun crimes, stop illegal gun trafficking and hold negligent gun dealers and owners account  more

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (N.J.-09), senior members of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees that set national health policy, today led a delegation letter urging U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to cease implementation of a Trump-era policy that will cost Central Jersey hospitals over $100 millio  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), today led a group of 41 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden outlining the pillars of a comprehensive diplomatic Iran strategy that will garner bipartisan support in Congress. "While we may have differing views on the Joint Comprehens  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), today led a group of 41 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden outlining the pillars of a comprehensive diplomatic Iran strategy that will garner bipartisan support in Congress. "While  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statements following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's approval of their bipartisan resolution reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ecuador. The resolution recognizes the restoration and ad  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's approval of S.615, their bipartisan legislation authorizing the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) program to combat the growing threat of terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa. Enti  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, in celebrating the Committee's approval of two of their resolutions condemning violations of fundamental freedoms and human rights in Cuba. At  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, in celebrating the Committee's approval of two of their resolutions condemning violations of fundamental freedoms and human rights in Cuba. At today's business meeting, the Senators' resolution to  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statements following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's approval of their bipartisan resolution reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ecuad  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's approval of S.615, their bipartisan legislation authorizing the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) program to combat the growing thr  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee issued the following testimony by Carlos M. Rodriguez, president and CEO of Community FoodBank of New Jersey, at a hearing entitled "Child Nutrition Reauthorization: Healthy Meals and Healthy Futures" on March 25, 2021: * * * My name is Carlos Rodriguez. I have the privilege of serving as President and CEO for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), which provides food and access to other critical resources   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) reintroduced the Help Students Vote Act, a bill to strengthen student voter registration and civic participation on college campuses. This legislation would allow for federal guidance to institutions of higher education in order to ensure their students have the resources they need to registe  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) joined Sens. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), along with 33 of their Senate colleagues, to introduce a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment, racism, and discrimination. The resolution also calls on federal officials, in collaboration with state and local agencies and Asian American and Pac  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously adopted their resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, March 25, 2021. The bipartisan resolution celebrates the commitment to democracy that Greece and the United States share as well as t  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) issued the following statements after the Senate unanimously adopted their resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, March 25, 2021. The bipartisan resolution celebrates the com  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today applauded the release of the first $81 billion of the $122 billion in the American Rescue Plan's (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund to help our nation's Pre-K-12 public schools safely reopen and address the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of their students. New Jersey   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced the awarding of $91,533,584.41 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to support New Jersey's COVID-19 response and recovery. The funding represents retroactive reimbursement for COVID-related costs after the Biden Administration, at the senators' urging, eliminated the local cost share  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced $14,415,135 in federal funding for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and another $2,457,996 for Shore Memorial Hospital to help bolster emergency protective measures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The grants were awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relie  more

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today applauded the Biden Administration for partnering with the state of New Jersey to boost vaccinations across the Newark area, announcing it will soon open a pilot Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Vaccination Center located at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility at the New Jersey Institu  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined Sens. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), along with 33 of their Senate colleagues, to introduce a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment, racism, and discrimination. The resolution also calls on federal officials, in collaboration with state and local agencies and Asian American and  more

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, along with 12 senators from states along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), sent a letter to President Biden urging him to support at least $55 billion in long-term funding for passenger rail infrastructure in order to repair the NEC rail network and to expand Amtrak passenger service nationwide. The NEC network alone runs 457 miles  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today rallied with local leaders and gun safety advocates and called on President Biden and Congress to take immediate action to address the nation's gun violence epidemic. The call to action comes after two deadly mass shootings in as many weeks, leaving 18 people dead. "When it comes to gun violence in America there is absolutely   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: In the wake of the deadly attack on Asian-Americans last week in Georgia, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker and Congressman Andy Kim (N.J.-03) today hosted a virtual roundtable with Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community leaders from across New Jersey to discuss the alarming increase in anti-Asian attacks. New Jersey has the third-largest Asian-American populat  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the highest ranking Latino in Congress, and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced a resolution to celebrate and honor the contributions of Latinas in communities all across the United States. The resolution, introduced during National Women's History Month, honors the heritage, culture and contributions of Latinas in a variety of fields while  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) today reintroduced the bipartisan WWII Veterans Hospital and Medical Eligibility Act to ensure all World War II (WWII) veterans have access to health care services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Current eligibility limits in the law have prevented some WWII veterans from receiving these benefits.  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) today were joined by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), in introducing a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The bipartisan resolution c  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) today were joined by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), in introducing a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The bipartisan resolution comes in advance of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's s  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, lauded the Committee approval of their bipartisan resolution in observance of the 10th anniversary of the Syrian uprising. The resolution now moves to the Senate Floor for final consideration. In addition to calling on the United States to support humanitarian aid to the  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, lauded the Committee approval of their bipartisan resolution in observance of the 10th anniversary of the Syrian uprising. The resolution now moves to the Senate Floor for final consideration. In addit  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, and Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in introducing new bipartisan legislation to strategically align the United States' diplomatic to  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, and Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in introducing new bipartis  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Subcommittee Chairman for the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, are calling on the Biden Administration to advance United States' interests in Europe through a full diplomatic push to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline (NS2). In a letter commending the Biden Admin  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Subcommittee Chairman for the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, are calling on the Biden Administration to advance United States' interests in Europe through a full diplomatic push to stop the  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee that sets national health policy, and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) formally introduced bipartisan legislation today to close the digital divide in health care and address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. The Tech to Save Moms Act will invest in and promote the integration and de  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, issued the following joint statement with Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, and Dick Durbin, D-Illinois: * * * U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jim Risch (R-ID), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the arrest of former Bolivian Interim President Jeanine Anez and other former government officials in Bolivia: "We are concerned about the recent detentions of former senior offi  more