WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: Ahead of the second international Summit for Democracy co-hosted by the United States, and as LGBTQI+ people experience growing assaults on their safety and freedom both domestically and internationally, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today reintroduced the International Human Rights Defense Act alongside Representative Robert G  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and letter: Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, expressed concern in a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) about the CBP One mobile application being the sole method for asylum seekers to pursue appointments. The new process and use of th  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 30, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, issued the following statement. "The bedrock of our legal system is the principle that justice applies to everyone equally. No one is above the law. "This indictment isn't a trivial matter. It means that a grand jury -- an impartial g  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 31, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, issued the following statement. "The bedrock of our legal system is the principle that justice applies to everyone equally. No one is above the law. "This indictment isn't a trivial matter. It means that a grand jury -- an impartial gr  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after today's vote to repeal the Authorizations for Use of Military Force Against Iraq. "After years of work, Congress has finally taken the necessary step to repeal the 2002 and 1991 authorizations for the use of military force in Iraq," said Senator Booker. "These aut  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Bill Posey (R-FL), along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Access to AEDs Act, legislation that would promote students' access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public elementary and secondary schools. "Sudden ca  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 16 Senate colleagues wrote a letter to President Biden raising concerns over reports the Administration is considering a return to the ineffective and inhuman  more

PEMBERTON, New Jersey, March 28 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 27, 2023: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced that the Township of Pemberton received $200,000 from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) through FEMA to help recruit, train, and retain firefighters. "I'm proud to have been able to help Pemberton Fire and the township get this grant so they can better recruit and retain firefighters," said Congressman Kim  more

NEW YORK, March 30 -- Rep. Rob Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: On Monday, March 27, 2023, Congressman Rob Menendez concluded his trip to United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City as a part of a bipartisan congressional delegation. The trip, organized by the UN Foundation, served as an opportunity for Congressman Menendez and his colleagues to hear directly from high-ranking U.S. and UN officials on issues of global importance. "With 44% of our district reside  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Van Drew's amendment to H.R.1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, passed the House of Representatives. "The Lower Energy Costs Act is essential in relieving Americans' burden at the pump and regaining American energy independence," said Congressman Van Drew. "However, I needed assurances that fast-tracking offshore wind development would not be included absent adequate investigations into wha  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) today led a group of Democratic lawmakers in introducing the Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act of 2023, new bicameral legislation to bolster Congress' role in the review of proposed arms sale  more

PARAMUS, New Jersey, March 28 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new action to combat the shocking surge in "change of address" fraud, including calling for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to strengthen authentication processes and require two-step verification if you change your address, and for the USPS Inspector General and the Postal Inspection Service to fully investigate "change of address" fraud and i  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: This week, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) helped lead the introduction of new bipartisan legislation to award Billie Jean King the Congressional Gold Medal. A tennis legend in the United States, Billie Jean was also instrumental in the passage of Title IX and has used her platform to advocate for equality for female athletes. In 2009, she was the first female athlete to receive the Presidenti  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) led a bipartisan effort, along with Reps. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) and Don Bacon (NE-2), urging the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to combat the surge in "change of address" fraud. "Change of address" fraud: * "Change of address" fraud is identity theft that occurs when a criminal fraudulently changes a victim's ad  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following Statement on March 30, 2023: * * * U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, released the following statement regarding the Russian detainment of American citizen, Wall Street Journal reporter, and New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich: "Not since the Cold War has a foreign journalist been charged with espionage in Russia, but ruthless dictator Vladimir Putin has continue  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 31, 2023: * * * U.S. Congressmen Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) released the following statement. "Over the last several months, we have witnessed Israeli democracy at work -- citizens of many backgrounds have demonstrated and made their voices heard, committed to Israel's vibrant democratic ideals. "We welcome the news that Israel's government has temporarily suspended cons  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 30, 2023: * * * Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Elissa Slotkin (MI-07), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) released the following statement condemning Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville's efforts to block the nomination of senior military officials over the Pentagon's rep  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 30, 2023: The House of Representatives today passed an amendment offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) requiring a comprehensive, independent investigation into the sufficiency of the environmental approval process for 3,400 offshore wind turbines along New Jersey's coastline during its consideration of the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1). Smith said his amendment--which passed by a vote of 244-189 an  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 27, 2023: The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed (413-2) legislation--HR 1154--authored by Rep. Chris Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, to combat the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ghoulish industry of stealing organs from young people, especially Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs and other Central Asians in concentration camps. Smith's bill now  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and letter: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) sent a letter to New Jersey Transit today urging them to use all available options to protect and expand bus and rail commuter routes to ensure affordable access to jobs, education, and healthcare options. The Congresswoman is working to help thousands of NJ-11 residents who are impacted by DeCamp's announcement that they will close key commuter bus rout  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 30, 2023: * * * Today the House passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which unleashes American energy and lowers costs for families. The legislation reverses many of the most destructive aspects of the Biden Administration's anti-energy policies by increasing domestic energy production and streamlining energy infrastructure and exports. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) offered the following stat  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led 10 of their Senate colleagues in submitting a public comment against the Biden Administration's proposed rule to restrict asylum at the southern border. The senators called on the Biden Administration to withdraw the rule in its entirety. "We write to express our strong opposition to the proposed rule published on February 23, 2023,   more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced legislation to ensure U.S. veterans can access education benefits they have earned. The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update its technology to pay GI Bill benefits for veterans taking approved coursework while attending educational institutions -- such as universities -- abroad that lack an Employee Identification  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, today questioned the Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve System, Michael Barr, during a banking hearing on the recent bank failures and asked if the Silicon Valley Bank situation posed "systemic risk" to the economy. "If any single bank's failure can cause c  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 30, 2023: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today during a hearing questioned witnesses about the impact pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) have on the prescription drug supply chain and how their warped incentive structure drives up prices for patients and consumers. PMBs are entities that manage prescription drug benefits and pharmacy network  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) today announced a combined total of $16,345,813.27 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Centrastate Healthcare System and Holy Name Hospital, as well as Middlesex, Essex and Morris Counties, for medical and protective personal equipment supplies, force account equipment,   more

UNION, New Jersey, March 28 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined with Kean University officials and the NJ Association of State Colleges and Universities to highlight $18.1 million in funding the senators secured for New Jersey colleges and universities in the Fiscal Year 2023 federal spending bill. This funding will make critical investments in higher education programs such as cybersecurity, S  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 31, 2023: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representative Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.-29) reintroduced a bicameral Congressional resolution honoring Cesar Chavez' life and legacy, recognizing him as one of the nation's most consequential civil rights and labor leaders. Today, March 31st, would have been Chavez' 96th birthday. "I am proud to have worked with my friend Representative Card  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 30, 2023: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Kennedy (R-La.), senior members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs today introduced the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Consultant Accountability Act of 2023 to protect homeowners who are victims of natural disasters from working with third parties that are found guilty of property damage assessment fraud  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023, and letter: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.Dak.) were joined by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), all members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development, in pressing the U.S. Federal Reserve on whether it used its authority to apply enhanced supervision and prudential standards to   more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday announced that Connecticut will receive $1.46 million in federal funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand Connecticut's existing Highlands area. This funding was made possible by Murphy's Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act, which was included in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations bi  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined a group of colleagues in urging President Joe Biden to take additional action to help transgender people access gender-affirming health care, protect them against violence and discrimination, and support health care providers facing threats of violence and limits on their ability to provide care. As 2023's International Transge  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 30, 2023: * * * Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 1, the Republicans' "Polluters Over People Act." "By passing this legislation today, House Republicans are putting polluters over people. This bill is nothing more than a grab bag of Big Oil giveaways and loopholes that endanger the health, safety, and security of American  more

RED BANK, April 1 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 31, 2023: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Carole Johnson held a press conference today to highlight a grant Pallone helped secure from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support the establishment of a new primary care medical residency program at community health centers in Monmouth County. The VNACJ C  more

PATERSON, New Jersey, March 28 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 27, 2023: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the longtime congressman from the Ninth District and a lifelong Patersonian, today commented on the announcement by New Jersey Attorney Matthew Platkin that his office would takeover the Paterson Police Department. "There is nothing more important for our community or any other than making sure our neighbors feel safe, safe in thei  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, this afternoon praised fresh action by the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service to curb abuse of arguably the worst loophole in the entire federal tax code, so-called stepped-up basis. This action follows prodding by Pascrell to issue this guidance. "Stepped-up basi  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 27, 2023: U.S Rep. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), longtime Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced today that he and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have reintroduced legislation to help fire departments across the United States update existing fire stations and construct new ones where needed. The Facilitating Investments Required for Emergency Services to A  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023: Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced $503,471 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security to empower local fire departments to recruit firefighters and improve safety equipment in South Jersey. The Bellmawr Fire Department will receive $23,809.52 to purchase life-saving equipment and the Stratford Fire Department will receive $479,662 to recruit and retain firefighters.  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 30, 2023: Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted against a bill today that would increase pollution and dangerous drilling on federal lands. The bill, The Lower Energy Costs Act or H.R. 1, would eliminate critical environmental protections to allow energy companies to destroy federal lands in order to pump and ship American oil overseas. It permits energy companies to increase greenhouse gas emis  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 30, 2023: * * * Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued the following statement on today's indictment of former President Donald Trump: "Today, an alleged criminal was charged with a crime. Like other alleged criminals, he will have his day in court and be given the opportunity to make his case. This is exactly how our justice system should work. In America, no one is above the law, no  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 30, 2023: * * * Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after the arrest of Princeton native, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia on charges of espionage: "The detention of Evan Gershkovich is outrageous and completely unacceptable. "He must be safely and immediately returned to his family. "I'm working with my colleagues in the New  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 27, 2023: Last week, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Congressman Mike Carey (OH-15) re-introduced the bipartisan Supporting Our First Responders Act to help emergency medical services (EMS) agencies with hiring and retention, training reimbursements, facility upgrades, and more. "EMS responders are first on the scene and must be willing to risk their own well-being to put others' needs first. Sadly  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: Representatives Jason Crow (CO-06), Andy Kim (NJ-03), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), key House Democrats dedicated to national security, issued the following statement in response to recent developments surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial overhaul and subsequent firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In a statement, the Representatives said: "Democratic valu  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- 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, today delivered the following remarks in advance of the Senate's vote on final passage to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force against Iraq. Today's remarks follow the Senator's leadership in advancing repeal of the AUMFs, both on the   more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 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, were joined by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing the International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and enhance critical p  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 28, 2023: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today delivered the following opening remarks at this morning's full hearing on U.S. support of democracy and human rights. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuelan Freedom Activist, Co-Founder of the World Liberty Congress; Ms. Sviatlana Ts  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on March 28, 2023: * * * Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today released the below statement in reaction to the Biden administration's designation of sanctions pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 against individuals who have supported the Assad regime's trafficking of potent amphetamine Captagon.  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on March 31, 2023: At a congressional hearing this week, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), called on the United States and international community to immediately step-up efforts to combat the Chinese Communist Party's genocide against the people of Tibet and hold its enablers to account, including and especially American company Thermo Fisher Scient  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Rob Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following Statement on March 30, 2023: * * * "I came to Congress to solve problems, to work on real solutions for working families in the Eighth Congressional District. Instead, today, we voted on GOP legislation that only exacerbates the very real problem of climate change. "H.R. 1 not only fails to meet the moment, but threatens to accelerate climate change and eliminate environmental protections that Americans have benefit  more