WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken's upcoming hearing this afternoon to review the FY24 State Department budget request, and the importance of resourcing the State Department to   more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) has joined the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) as an associate member for the 118th Congress. Senator Booker and CAPAC Chair Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) issued the following statement. "CAPAC has been at the forefront of advocating for issues important to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders and has ensured the   more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 22, 2023: On World Water Day, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ranking Member Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reintroduced the newly renamed A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act at a bicameral press conference, joined by House Natural Resources Committee Vice Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) and a   more

NEWARK, New Jersey, March 22 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, and Senator Menendez (D-N.J.) announced $1 million in Fiscal Year 2023 federal funding for the launch of a no-cost summer camp as well as year-round support services for youth in violence-impacted and disadvantaged areas in Cum  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and letters: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) urged regulators to set a temporary moratorium on overdraft and nonsufficient fund fees and urged the CEOs of the ten banks generating the most revenue from these fees to waive them for their customers. The Senators' action comes after the failures of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank this month, which led to disruptions  more

SEA ISLE CITY, New Jersey, March 23 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 22, 2023: Congressman Van Drew issued the following statement after eight dolphins washed up and died on a Sea Isle City beach yesterday, and reiterated his call for a moratorium on all offshore wind projects until adequate investigations are held. "When half a dozen whales washed ashore on South Jersey beaches, and I questioned the possibility that offshore wind development  more

PARAMUS, New Jersey, March 22 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced action to protect public safety and encourage electric vehicle (EV) auto manufacturers to include AM radio in their cars and trucks. Despite the clear public safety uses of AM radio, many EV manufacturers have stopped including AM radio in their vehicles because they do not want to spend a few dollars to ensure public safety   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), the only Jewish member of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, released the following statement regarding the release of the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) 2022 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents: "The continued, despicable surge in antisemitism across New Jersey and our country should sound an alarm for every single American. The magnitude o  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, and local, state, and federal law enforcement officers came together for a roundtable discussion. The group focused on actions to combat the concerning rise in burglaries and auto theft across North Jersey -- specifically crime targeting Indian Americans and the greater Asian Ame  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023: During consideration of the Parents Bill of Rights Act (HR 5), the House of Representatives today unanimously passed an amendment offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) that would require school officials to notify parents of any video recordings of violent incidents that occur at school. Smith's amendment--which is now headed to the Senate as part of HR 5--comes in response to the   more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and letter on March 22, 2023: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) sent a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations's Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies urging them to provide the highest possible level of funding for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs that can support state public transit agencies and tra  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) introduced the 'One-Seat-Ride Act' to direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of a one-seat-ride trip versus a transfer trip option during "peak hours" on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. This legislation, H.R. 1547, directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of a one-seat-ride trip v  more

VINELAND, New Jersey, March 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 21, 2023: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), today along with Jennifer Webb-McRae, Cumberland County Prosecutor, community partners, and representatives from Inspira Health, announced $1 million in Fiscal Year 2023 federal funding for the launch of a no-cost summer camp as well as year-round support services for youth in violence-impacted and disadvantaged areas the county. "This g  more

LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, March 23 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 22, 2023: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ) Community Health Center will receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support the establishment of a new primary care medical residency program at its community health centers in Monmouth County. The VNACJ Community Health  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-12), and Adam B. Schiff (CA-28) and 66 Members of Congress sent a letter today requesting significant economic assistance for the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in the Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Relations funding legislation. Th  more

UNION BEACH, New Jersey, March 21 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 20, 2023: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) held a groundbreaking ceremony today with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the Union Beach flood control project. This phase includes beach replenishment with dunes, pedestrian and automobile dune crossovers, and strategically placed term  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today strongly opposed H.R. 5, House Republicans' dangerous book ban bill that would make it easier for rightwing extremists to meddle in schools and ban books in communities across America. "Americans should be clear that Republicans are voting today to advance a bill to make it easier to ban books," said Rep. Pascrell. "With the Governor o  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today commented on a new report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) identifying a massive 36 percent spike in antisemitic incidents across the United States. "The findings that antisemitic incidents in America have exploded over one-third in just a year should chill the spine and soul of every single American," said Rep. Pascrell. "Last yea  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the co-chairman of the House Fire Services Caucus and House Law Enforcement Caucus, joined U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL-28) in introducing H.R. 1719, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (Honor Act), legislation to ensure fire fighters, police, and EMS personnel who die or become disable  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023: Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. rejected a bill today to take critical resources away from public schools, force local school systems to promote Christian and charter schools, and make it easier for extremists to ban educational books for any reason. The bill, the Parents Bill of Rights Act or H.R. 5, forces public school systems to adhere to Republican-based demands or lose federal f  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 24, 2023: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) highlighted the horrific human rights abuses committed by the Chinese Communist Party in Xinjiang and the complicity of Chinese tech firms in the surveillance of the Uyghur people and urged U.S. businesses to invest in global supply chains that are free of Uyghur forced labor. During the second hearing of the Select Committee on the Strategic Comp  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), a member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and Chinese Communist Party, released the following statement after today's testimony by TikTok CEO Shou Chew in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee: "The Select Committee has been strongly engaged on the threat of TikTok to our democracy and we will   more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Kathy Manning (D-NC), Co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, today issued a joint call for renewed vigilance and better protections against hate crimes in response to an alarming new report released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that found antisemitic attacks in the US increased by 36 percent over the past year. "ADL's  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 22, 2023: Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) each introduced the WATER Act, a comprehensive bill to expand access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water. The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability Act has 72 cosponsors across both chambers of Congress and is co-led in the House by Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17). The WAT  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: Congressman Van Drew (R-NJ) introduced the Agent Orange Veterans Service Medal Act alongside his colleague, Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT), to honor our nation's veterans who have suffered from long-term side effects from Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. "Exposure to Agent Orange has left thousands of brave veterans with lifelong health impacts. Honoring the sacrifices they   more

UNION BEACH, New Jersey, March 21 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 20, 2023: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and U.S. House Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.-06) held a groundbreaking ceremony with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for the Union Beach flood control project. This phase includes beach replenishment with dunes, pedestrian and automobile dune crossovers, and strat  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, 2023: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today delivered the following opening statement at today's full Committee hearing entitled "American Diplomacy and Global Leadership: Review of the FY24 State Department Budget Request." Testifying before the Committee was Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "China h  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 22, 2023: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced the Innovation and Development in Ecuador (IDEA) Act , legislation to make Ecuador eligible for designation as a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act. "B  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in leading 41 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to commemorate the 202nd anniversary of Greek Independence Day (March 25). In addition to celebrating Greece's historic role as the birthpl  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, 2023: In response to dramatic increases in attacks on human rights defenders around the world, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by Committee members Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in introducing the Global Voices of Freedom Act  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on March 24, 2023: * * * Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued the following statement in reaction to the news that Paul Rusesabagina, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, will be released from prison in Rwanda: "I join the Rusesabagina family in celebrating the news today that P  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, are urging the Biden administration to levy sanctions pursuant to the Caesar Syri  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 23, 2023: At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Biden Administration's push to enter a binding international pandemic treaty that could cede American sovereignty to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the event of a future pandemic. "The zero-draft WHO pandemic treaty--that the Biden Administration and other  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 22, 2023: At a congressional hearing today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) called on the Biden Administration and Congress to "enter a new phase" in pressuring Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega and combatting his extreme anti-Catholic persecution and crimes against humanity, including his outrageous 26-year imprisonment of Bishop Rolondo Alvarez on trumped-up charges. Chaired by Smith, the House Foreign  more

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Rob Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 24, 2023: * * * "The last several years have posed extreme challenges for families in New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District and across the country. "But instead of uplifting and supporting our children with real, tangible solutions, Republicans are looking to impose censorship on our schools, target the LGBTQ+ community, and politicize our education system. "As a father of two young children  more